Gutierrez: Drug lords want their man at PDEA helm

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Jose Gutierrez Jr. said yesterday someone backed by drug syndicates wants to take over his post. 

Gutierrez said he was convinced that big-time drug lords are financing the smear campaign that is being done to destroy the agency’s integrity, relying on personal attacks against him and his wife.

”I am also aware of the fact that whoever has vested interest in taking over my post as director general is backed by our adversaries whose illegal activities have already been adversely affected by our intensified operations, thus they are undertaking desperate moves to attack my integrity,” Gutierrez said in a statement.

Gutierrez this week got involved in a publicized rift with his former deputy, Carlos Gadapan, who was sacked from his post as the agency’s deputy director general for operations by Malacañang.

Gadapan believes he lost his job because he told Gutierrez about the latter’s wife’s purported gambling activities. Gutierrez’s wife, Estrella, has belied the allegations made by Gadapan. She said their family had never used the agency’s funds for their personal gains.

Gutierrez is set to appear before the Senate tomorrow following an investigation called by Sen. Vicente Sotto III.

In a recent interview with The STAR, Gutierrez revealed that he will provide the Senate with information on syndicates and drug groups he said were behind the attacks against him.

Since these details are “highly confidential” in nature, Gutierrez said he will ask for an “executive session” with the senators if they want to know about such information.

In his statement yesterday, Gutierrez said: “I am wary of the fact that in the course of leading the PDEA in the war on illegal drugs, I have earned the ire of bigwigs in the illegal drug trade. They are now moving heaven and earth to discredit me and have me removed as PDEA chief.”

Gutierrez reiterated that he serves at the pleasure of President Aquino and that he would continue to fulfill his sworn duties and responsibilities at the helm of the national anti-drug campaign.

“In case the President no longer has his confidence in me, I am going out of the agency without any comments at all. I am a presidential appointee. I serve at the pleasure of the President,” he said.

However, he assured the public that the agency remains steadfast and will not be distracted from its mandate despite the controversy.