MANILA -- A total of 124 recruits started their training on Thursday in Silang, Cavite to become agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said a total of 51 males and 73 females-- members of the Drug Enforcement Officers’ Basic Course (DEOBC) Class 2019-17--took their oath of commitment which signaled the start of their six-month comprehensive and regimented training on drug law enforcement.
“If they passed the training, they will become bonafide members of the country’s premier anti-drug law agency. These individuals will boost the government’s campaign to clear our country from illegal drugs by 2022,” Aquino said in a statement.
The 17th batch of PDEA trainees will undergo training modules on basic management and leadership, communication enhancement skills, community-based anti-illegal drug advocacy, legal studies, anti-illegal drug intelligence, tactics, interdiction operations and investigation, and other non-academic activities.
Since his assumption as PDEA chief in September 2017, Aquino led the recruitment of seven DEOBC Classes producing 756 full-fledged drug enforcement officers so far.
This is the largest recruitment of DEOs in the history of PDEA in two years.
To date, there are 1,795 DEOs who serve as front liners of the anti-drug campaign and deployed in PDEA regional offices, district offices, provincial offices, high-risk airports and major seaports nationwide.
“Considering its limited manpower capability against the enormity of the country’s drug problem, PDEA stays motivated while doing more with less, and remains on course for clearing barangays from the drug menace until none exist,” Aquino said. (PNA)
