This has reference to two columns “Sentinel” authored by Mr. Ramon Tulfo entitled “Caught red-handed” and “Betrayal of the highest order” dated Dec. 10 and Dec. 13, 2022.
In the articles, the anti-narcotics operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) who were recently arrested by police authorities in a buy-bust operation inside the PDEA Southern District Office (SDO), Taguig City, apparently looted valuables during the implementation of a search warrant in a house in an opulent village in Ayala Alabang.
Other issues include the portrayal of PDEA as a corrupt organization and its agents as drug recyclers; and the expulsion of the Agency as a free rentee from one of the owned buildings of the city government of Taguig.
PDEA and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have agreed to strengthen their collaborative efforts to deal crippling blows to organized local and international drug syndicates, including going after scalawags in drug law enforcement. PDEA knew all along about the planned entrapment operation since it was properly coordinated by local police – an indispensable requirement prior to the conduct of anti-illegal drugs operations.
Alongside the revitalization of its internal cleansing program, PDEA continues to strengthen counter-intelligence efforts within its ranks to preserve the Agency’s integrity and moral ascendancy to serve the public. As soon as verified, PDEA will not hesitate to arrest one of its own.
In an effort to thresh out matters, PDEA is presently reaching out to the local government of Taguig City and let them hear our side of the story.
An internal investigation is currently underway to get to the bottom of the situation, to include the alleged act of indiscriminate taking of valuable items attributed to the members of PDEA-SDO. Such action is unwarranted and can never be condoned. Rest assured that punitive measures await the wrongdoers when proven.
We would like to thank The Philippine STAR for regularly publishing news reports on PDEA’s anti-drug accomplishments. PDEA, as the premier agency in the fight against illegal drugs, will continue to respond to new challenges in leading the citizenry towards a drug-free Philippines. – Moro Virgilio M. Lazo, Director General, PDEA