PDEA cannot win the drug war

With the campaign now left to an ill-equipped and undermanned Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, it's really hard to imagine an intensified war against the illegal drug trade without the aggressive participation of the Philippine National Police.

For the second time, President Rodrigo Duterte has stopped the anti-drug campaign of the police and tasked the PDEA to continue the job alone. His order prompted the police leadership to dissolve all units that focused on drugs.

There's really no question about the PDEA's capability to go after those involved in illegal drugs. Since it has been created for such a purpose, the president seems to be going to use its full potential, confident that it can deliver.

However, with the scarcity of personnel and other resources, many doubt if the PDEA can pull off the job according to design. Given these difficulties, it remains to be seen whether the agency has all what it takes to live up to public expectations.

In Central Visayas, Ana Lynn Hernandez-Nob, officer-in-charge of PDEA-7, admitted that the strength of the agency, with only less than 50 drug enforcers, is only equivalent to that of a police station. "We need more in order to address the problem of illegal drugs," she said.

The government has already gained the upper hand with the heightened drive dealing a heavy blow to the illegal drug trade. However, Duterte's order halting the PNP's drug war participation will only hijack the momentum.

Many believe that allegations of extrajudicial killings prompted the president to recall the PNP's role in the drug campaign. But it would only cause a huge setback if Duterte opts to continue fighting the war with only PDEA taking the lead given its limited resources.

If the government really wants to win the war, it should involve the country's full force in the campaign. PDEA cannot win it alone. It needs the active role of the police and other branches of law enforcement to accomplish the mission.