Undermanned PDEA-6 made 6 drug busts in one month

ILOILO CITY — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region 6 on Friday reported that it conducted, within one month, six buy-bust operations all over Western Visayas.

From October 10 to November 9, 2017, PDEA-6 also implemented the serving of three arrest warrants on drug suspects, 15 greyhound operations, and 12 seaport/ airport inspections and interdictions.

David Garcia, PDEA-6 spokesman, admitted that the number of anti-drug operations was still way below compared to the times when other law-enforcement agencies, particularly the Philippine National Police, were still handling the campaign.

But with only 32 agents running after drug personalities in Western Visayas, Garcia said PDEA-6 could only do so much. He also admitted the possibility that some illegal drug personalities, who earlier lay low, might return into the fray or have re-grouped with other drug personalities.

This is apparently the scenario that happened when Duterte also ordered the PNP and other law-enforcement agencies to stop its anti-drug campaign late January this year. But Garcia assured the public that they are not turning a blind eye on it. "We are continuously monitoring them," he said.

Garcia said PDEA-6 would soon get additional agents, as new recruits are expected to graduate from the PDEA Academy.

On November 8, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said that the agency’s regional directors have been ordered to meet a monthly quota of "30 to 40" anti-drug operations, and an oversight committee has been monitoring their performances..

Garcia added that PDEA-6 Director Wardley Getalla has mapped out plans on utilizing Executive Order No. 15 (Creation of an Anti-Agency Committee on AntiIllegal Drugs and Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force to Suppress the Drug Problem in the Country).

As chair of the ICAD, the PDEA can tap other government agencies in the fight against illegal drugs. While the police and military could not operate on their own, the PDEA could request for backup from them during the conduct of drug operations.