AFP task force to help PDEA in anti-drugs war

FORT DEL PILAR, Baguio City — Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief of Staff General Eduardo Año said that a military task force will soon be created to help the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the war against illegal drugs.

Año also assured that the

AFP-PDEA anti-illegal drugs operations will not be bloody and will not target small time drug pushers but high-level drug syndicates.

In an interview during the media fellowship night at the Pine Breeze Hotel here, Año said the creation of the task force will greatly help PDEA in going after big-time illegal drugs traders and suppliers.

Año said he will deploy soldiers that will comprise the task force depending on the threat. “A task force is very flexible and will depend on the available threat. The task force could reach up to 5,000 or as low as 500 men,” he added.

“Depending on the requirement we can increase or we can decrease depending on the situation,” he added.

When asked if the joint PDEA and AFP anti-illegal drugs operations will be similar to the Philippine National Police (PNP) “Oplan Tokhang” campaign, Año said that will not be the case.

He also said that their anti-illegal drugs operations will not be bloody and will not target small time drug pushers.

“No, the AFP will not do that. We will not be involved in the streets. We’ll not be involved in running after street pushers. The Armed Forces will help PDEA in running after high-level drug syndicates,” Año said.

The AFP said initially they are looking for a battalion size unit that will compose the task force.

Año, at the same time, said that he has already met with PDEA chief Director General Isidro Lapeña to renew their existing Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to better help in fighting illegal drugs.

“I already met with PDEA director Isidro Lapeña even before the President announced that he is putting a stop to the PNP’s anti-drug operation because PDEA and the Armed Forces already have a MOA even before. We will just renew it because based on the pronouncement of the President, we need to make certain adjustments,” Año said.

“Even with the absence of an EO (Executive Order) we are ready to operate with PDEA – PDEA as the main and we are just support. We also discussed that we can start actually do operations if there is a target package,” he said.

Año reiterated that the Armed Forces will always be on the support role and once the EO is approved, part of that will be a training package for personnel which will be attached or will be placed under the operational control of PDEA,” Año said.