PDEA chief willing to kill ‘nanlaban’ drug suspects if they are armed threat to agents

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Aaron Aquino on Tuesday said he would be willing to kill drug suspects if they pose an armed threat to PDEA officers while resisting arrest.

"Of course. Why not? Ayaw ko na may mamamatay na PDEA. As long as it's proven na the operation is legit and there's an armed encounter na hindi 'yung gagawa lang kami ng scenario or what. Kasi since nakaupo ako sa PDEA, I haven't received any complaint from outside complaining PDEA agents or PDEA personnel," Aquino said in a press conference after signing an agreement with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP).

In October, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the PDEA to take over the government's anti-narcotics campaign from the Philippine National Police after mounting outcry over the deaths of drug suspects in police operations.

Aquino promised that his men will not violate any laws.

Asked about Duterte's remarks that he may return drug operations to the police, the PDEA chief admitted that he still needs the assistance of other government agencies to eradicate illegal drugs.

"That's my wish, actually, that the PNP will go back to this fight against illegal drugs. Sa mula pa lang sinabi ko na we still need the PNP, NBI [National Bureau of Investigation] and other law enforcement agencies to join us in this fight," Aquino said.

"But again, the PDEA is on top of this situation. We will never fail, promise ko 'yan," he added.

The latest PDEA data showed that 1,341 drug-operations were conducted from October 11 to November 10.

One individual was killed while 404 others were arrested. — BM, GMA News