MANILA -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has posted significant accomplishments in its anti-narcotics operations under the first 100 days of Aaron N. Aquino as PDEA Director General as it continues to wage war against illegal drugs under the Duterte administration.
Aquino, former police chief superintendent and director of Police Regional Office 3, was appointed to the PDEA by President Rodrigo Duterte last August but formally assumed his new post on Sept. 12, 2017, after Isidro Lapeña was appointed as new commissioner of the Bureau of Customs.
PDEA conducted a total of 3,476 anti-drug operations wherein 1,321 drug personalities were arrested, PHP228.81 million worth of drug and non-drug evidence confiscated, and 2,063 drug cases filed - from Sept. 12, 2017 to Dec. 20, 2017.
During this period, PDEA confiscated 36,705.61 grams of methamphetamine hydrochloride, popularly known as shabu, 16,629.46 grams of dried marijuana leaves, 4,343 marijuana seedlings, 50,000 grams of marijuana stalks, 1,183.46 grams of cocaine, 54 pieces of ecstasy, and 1.10 ml of gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB) or liquid ecstasy.
When PDEA was the sole agency authorized to conduct anti-drug operations from October 11, 2017 to December 5, 2017, the agency conducted a total of 2,214 anti-drug operations which resulted in the arrest of 771 drug personalities, confiscation of PHP176.83 million of drug and non-drug evidence and filing of 1,448 drug cases.
High-Value Targets nab
Also in Aquino’s first 100 days, the agency intensified the conduct of high-value target and high-impact operations that resulted to the arrests of 331 high-value targets (HVTs), including six foreign nationals, 15 elected officials, seven uniformed personnel, 21 government employees, 52 drug group members, three armed group members, 19 listed personalities, 24 drug den maintainers, and 184 other HVTs.
Among the targets was Maasim, Saranggani Mayor Aniceto Lopez who was arrested after authorities seized PHP5 million worth of shabu at his home last October 6, the PDEA said.
Former actor Cogie Domingo was also among the high-value targets, PDEA said after 20 grams of shabu were seized during a buy-bust operation at BF Homes, Parañaque City.
The PDEA also included 11 male drug suspects who were arrested during a sexual orgy and drug session in Seda Hotel, Bonifacio Global City last November 26. Some PHP387,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized in the said operation.
It also tagged as high-value targets two African Drug Syndicate members who were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Kawit, Cavite last November 8 and a Colombian drug mule who was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last November 12.
On Nov. 6, 2017, a search operation was conducted at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City which resulted in the confiscation of 183 grams of shabu, drug paraphernalia and other contrabands from the detention cell of Yu Yuk Lai, a convicted drug queen.
On the same day, a search warrant was implemented against Diana Yu, daughter of Yu Yuk Lai at her residence in Solano Street, San Miguel, Manila where authorities confiscated 682.92 kilos of shabu.
A drug mule of Colombian nationality was arrested by Ninoy Aquino International Airport-Inter-Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (NAIA-IADITG) on
November 12 during an interdiction operation at NAIA. Alberto Pedroza Quijano attempted to smuggle drugs by swallowing 79 pellets of cocaine with a total weight of 1.1 kilos.
High-Impact Operations
During the period, 30 High-Impact Operations (HIOs), including 10 high-volume seizures, four marijuana eradication, eight dismantling of drug dens, three mail and interdiction operations, one airport interdiction operation and four other HIOs, were conducted by PDEA and other law enforcement agencies (OLEAs).
From Nov. 29, 2017 to Dec. 4, 2017, three separate parcels containing a total of 13.5 kilos of shabu were discovered by NAIA-IADITG using PDEA-trained K9s. Two of the parcels came from a sender with the addresses in California, USA, while the other had a sender’s address in Congo.
To deter cultivation of marijuana, PDEA conducted marijuana eradication. On November 20, raids were conducted in Sugpon, Ilocos Sur, and Kibungan, Benguet which resulted in the uprooting of 50 kilos of marijuana stalks.
Barangay clearing efforts
Through the implementation of the Barangay Drug Clearing Program, a total of 547 barangays nationwide were declared drug-free from Sept. 12 to Dec. 20, 2017.
Notable is the declaration of the drug-cleared status of the province of Romblon on November 13 after having met the requirements set forth by the Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 3, Series of 2017. Romblon is the second province after the Batanes to be declared drug-free.
On December 4, the City of Tacloban was also declared drug-free after having met the DDB requirements.
The Barangay Drug Clearing Program is being implemented by the government to clear drug-affected barangays in the country through the cooperation of PDEA, PNP, local government units and other involved agencies.
PHP6-B worth of dangerous drugs destroyed
During the 100 days of Aquino, around PHP6 billion worth of dangerous drugs, including 873.03 kilos of shabu were destroyed on Nov. 10, 2017, at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. in Trece Martirez City, Cavite.
On October 12, PHP10 million worth of precursors and chemicals were destroyed at Green Planet Management, Inc. in Valenzuela City.
Part of the agency’s campaign to address the drug menace is the conduct of demand reduction activities to keep the citizens away from illegal drugs.
Also from Sept. 12 to Dec. 20, 2017, more than 4 million Filipinos were reached by the preventive education and community involvement, and multi-media activities of the agency.
To encourage the public to report drug-related information to authorities, monetary reward is given for every successful information through Operation ‘Private Eye’. On Dec. 20, 2017, four informants were awarded a total of PHP4,834,433 reward money.
Also during the same period, the PDEA issued a total of 7,912 permits and 2,833 licenses to practitioners involved in handling and administration of dangerous drugs.
Cooperation with local, foreign counterparts
As part of a major strategy to enhance its capabilities in addressing the drug problem, PDEA partnered with other government agencies and NGOs.
During the period, PDEA under Director General Aaron N. Aquino signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Mayor Arthur Robes of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan for the donation of 1,000 square meters of land to be utilized by the agency.
Last November 14, PDEA inked an agreement with Bureau of Corrections to curb the incidence of illegal drug activities within the government facilities and penal farms. With the agreement, PDEA is now maintaining a 24-hour visibility in BuCor’s jails and is now regularly conducting search and operations inside jails.
On the same day, a MOA with Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) was signed to intensify drug-clearing operations in all city and municipal jails in the country.
On December 19, PDEA renewed its partnership with the Philippine-Chinese Charitable Association, Inc. through a MOA which covers the medical aid and treatment of PDEA personnel nationwide who sustained injuries in the line of duty.
To strengthen partnership with international counterparts, PDEA participated in 16 international trainings, workshops, meetings and conferences, and 11 local meetings on international cooperation.
An MOU with the Royal Thai Police was signed last September 20 to collaboratively combat transnational crime related to illicit drug trafficking.
Priority plans, programs
* Recruitment of at least 500 Drug Enforcement Officers yearly;
* Creation of 81 Provincial Offices and 5 District Offices to increase the Agency’s visibility at the grassroots level;
* Procurement of additional firepower, mobility, and communication equipment;
* Further strengthening of partnerships with local and international counterparts;
* Close coordination with Philippine Air Force, Philippine Navy, Philippine Coast Guard, and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources for joint operations in Philippine high-seas to prevent shipside smuggling;
* Establishment of PDEA offices in 13 major seaports in the country to provide visibility and immediate response to anti-drug operations;
* Creation of airport inter-agency drug interdiction task groups at international airports;
* Increase of K9 dogs for deployment to different vulnerable ports in the country;
* Strengthening financial investigation to freeze assets of drug lords and financiers;
* Active conduct of advocacy campaign;
* Reformation of voluntary drug surrenderers by establishing Balay Silangan, a reformation center that will provide them with livelihood and training, aftercare, community/social reintegration programs. The program will be implemented in coordination with government and non-government organizations. (PNA)
