PDEA-7: We don’t want drug suspects killed

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region (PDEA) -7 Director Yogi Felimon Ruiz says the agency also does not want drug suspects to be killed during operations in response to Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle's plea to law enforcers not to kill drug suspects.

Ruiz said the agency also values human life, adding that if suspects would not resist arrest or draw their weapons, police operatives will not have reason to shoot them.

“Do not fight back, mao lang amua kay kami intawon naa pud mi pamilya. Kami pud gusto pud namo muoli sa among pamilya. Kung kamo gusto mo muoli pud sa inyung pamilya, suway mu'g bisita sa PDEA. Ug naa mo'y mga armas i-surrender nalang na ninyo. Mao ra na akong awhag,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz also said that they prefer suspects to be arrested rather than being killed during operations, so they could extract information from them.

Since August 1, six drug suspects have been killed during PDEA-7 operations after they resisted arrest and tried to shoot at police. Last July, a PDEA-7 agent was also injured during a buy-bust operation when the suspect he was transacting with sensed he was a police operative.

“Kung kusang loob lang sila nga magtaas sa ilang kamot, dili lang sila mubunot sa pusil. Dili nalang unta sila mag-tuck-in-tuck-in og pusil. Mao na akong advice, nga kanang mga drug personalities nga duna'y pusil karon, suroy nalang mo diri sa PDEA, i-surrender nalang na ninyo inyung mga pusil, mao lang na akong ikaingun,” he added.

Ruiz also said that they have been fighting illegal drugs on three fronts: first, demand reduction through barangay clearing operations and intervention programs for drug surrenderers; second, supply reduction where the agency goes after drug pushers; and third, asset preservation where properties from illegal means will be seized and reverted to the National Treasury.

“Kung karon atong hunongon ang atong momentum karon, it's just like nga atong gihatagan og chance ang mga sindikato nga mulig-on sila'g balik. Mas mudaghan na sad ang ilang network, ang ilang equipment, makapalit na sad sila og additional nga kahimanan. Imagina ng atong kontra billions ang ilang kwarta. So makapalit sila'g armas. Atong i-take into consideration nga anaa na ta sa punto nga ang mga sindikato nangita na sila'g paagi nga maka-divert na sila sa ilang negosyo. So i-grab na nato,” Ruiz said.

Ruiz also supported the bill proposed by Muntinlupa Representative Ruffy Biazon for operatives to wear body cameras during operations. He said that this will help the public see the real situation during the operations and also provide proof that some suspects do indeed fight back.