Iloilo cops train before anti-drug unit activation

ILOILO CITY — Several members of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) are currently undergoing training in preparation for the reactivation of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU).

Senior Superintendent Marlon Tayaba, IPPO director on Monday afternoon said they are set to operationally activate the PDEU on December 23.

Tayaba said the cops are training on handling cases related to illegal drugs, police procedures, human rights, spiritual upliftment, and standard operating procedures.

He said community vetting would also be conducted in choosing the policemen to be assigned in the unit. "Last time, the PDEU was elected based on the recommendation of the officers. Now, the community is involved," he said.

Through the training, Tayaba said, the policemen are expected to be "more diligent" once they rejoin the anti-drug operations. "We expect that they will properly handle drug cases, and at the same time avoid issues of extra-judicial killings, planting of evidence. Rule of law will really be the destination of these trainings," he added.

The IPPO created the PDEU at the start of President Rodrigo Duterte's campaign against illegal drugs. The unit specifically focused on the neutralization of high-value targets (HVTs) in the province.

It was deactivated when "Oplan Tokhang" and "Oplan Double Barrel" were suspended after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency was designated as the "sole agency" to conduct anti-drug operations.