Agent says PDEA10 'overwhelmed' by tips

An anti-narcotics agent said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Northern Mindanao (PDEA-10) is having difficulties coping with the sheer volume of drug-related tips and leads a month into the PDEA-led drug war.

Ben Calibre, an operative of PDEA-10, said after being designated by President Rodrigo Duterte as the lead agency in the war against illegal drugs, the number of operations they have had to mount has doubled.

PDEA-10 data showed 24 drug operations were conducted which resulted to the arrest of 29 drug personalities across the region since October 11 to November 21.

In the said period, the antinarcotics agency seized more than P600,000 worth of illegal drugs and 35 cases have been filed in court.

“Mas nidoble karon ang atong operation compare atong wala pa sa ato solely ang authority sa war on drugs (Our operations now are doubled compared before where the authority is not solely with us),”Calibre said.

Calibre said they are being challenged on how to accommodate and respond the volume of information on illegal transactions and activities around the region.

He said they now even went down to the barangay level and their operations depend on first opportunity basis.

“Sauna HVT among priority sa operation pero karon depende sa mauna nga opportunity nga makuha whether barangay level or target-listed (Our priority before are high value target but now we catch drug suspects whether they are barangay level or target-listed depending on the opportunity),” Calibre said.

“Sa operation walay problema pero dili igo ang among personnel sa kadaghan sa mga drug personalities sa region maong galisod mi (We don’t see problems in the operation, but the ratio of our personnel and the number of drug personalities are giving us the hard time),”Calibre added.

Calibre said should the problem on lack of manpower and resources are addressed, the PDEA-10 may be able to face the challenges without setbacks.

He said the less than 50 PDEA-10 operatives will never be enough to fight the drug menace with thousand of drug players.

Calibre reiterated that even with the police authority on the drug war before and now as they exclusively take in-charge of the drug operations, the drug supply and transactions remains prevalent.

He said the drug war of the Duterte administration needs unified efforts of the PDEA agents, the community, and much more with their counterparts from other law enforcement agencies such as the police.