PDEA-6 director suspects politics behind his ouster

CEBU, Philippines – He told The Freeman he earlier turned down a request from an influential political family that displeased the latter thereby moving “heaven and earth” to boot him out of Western Visayas.

According to some sources, a scion of the said family wanted that anti-drug operations will be conducted against their political nemesis, also a well-known and influential political family in Iloilo, to net the politician’s brothers.

Ruiz however said that, although one of them was known to be a drug user, PDEA-6’s surveillance operations reportedly found the subject to be not illegal drug pushing or distribution.

Despite this negative findings, the scion allegedly wanted PDEA-6 to continue the operation using an allegedly “back-up” plan: Plant illegal drugs as part of the evidences against the targets.

Ruiz however flatly rejected this plan, saying that he could not, in his conscience, do it. He added that he saw this as the reason why the scion, a known ally of the Aquino administration, had demanded for his relief as PDEA-6 director.

Ruiz will swap post with PDEA-ARMM director Edwin Layese, a retired military official and husband of Passi City Councilor Aura Landar-Layese whose family has been known an ally of the political family that Ruiz was referring to.

When pressed for comment, however, Ruiz maintained that his relief, or rather swapping of post with Layese, has been tainted with politics. “It was but a normal movement within the PDEA,” said Ruiz who will be taking the helm at ARMM. “I must have done something good here that the PDEA heirarchy needs this replicated in ARMM.”

Ruiz, who was installed in Western Visayas in June 2011, will officially turn over his post to Layese in ceremonies slated at 9 a.m. of September 7 at the PDEA-6 office.  – THE FREEMAN