PDEA chief confirms entry of Colombian drug cartel to PHL

The head of the country's anti-illegal drug agency on Tuesday confirmed that a Colombian drug cartel has expanded its operations to the Philippines, as earlier bared by President Rodrigo Duterte following the recovery of bricks of cocaine in the country's waters.

"Tama ang ating Presidente nung sinabi niya na pumapasok na ang Colombian drug cartel sa atin kasi based doon sa nakuha nating representative sample sa Matnog, Sorsogon, noong 2018, lumalabas na ito ay nagawa sa Colombia," said Director General Aaron Aquino of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in a phone interview on Unang Balita.

Aquino said foreign drug syndicates are using the Philippines as a transshipment point for cocaine and that drug cartels may be using the cocaine bricks as a diversionary tactic so that a bigger amount of illegal drugs may be shipped to the country.

"Sabi ko ngang tatlong teorya 'yan. Number one, transshipment point. Pangalawa 'yung ating diversionary tactic na ginagawa ng drug syndicate, at 'yung pangatlo kung nasakay nila ito sa speed boat nila, itong mga smuggler ay nafi-feel nila na sila ay mahuhuli... ito'y tinatapon sa karagatan pero ire-recover din naman ito," Aquino said.

In a separate interview on Dobol B sa News TV, Aquino admitted that the government's coastal defense is weak.

"The only way na ipasok ang drugs is through our shorelines, unguarded 'yung mga islands natin and that's the reason ginagawang drug hub ang Pilipinas," he said.

"Kasi nga may kahinaan tayo sa pagbantay sa ating coastline, maliit lang ang floating asset ng Philippine Navy saka ng Coast Guard kaya talagang open ang ating mga coastline," he said.

Aquino also said the Philippines has been coordinating with Colombia as regards the matter.

On Monday, Duterte said the cocaine bricks recovered in Philippine waters point to the entry of the Medellin group of Colombia to the country.

"We are facing a serious problem. Pumasok na ang cartel Medellin [ng] Colombia kaya nga maraming nakikitang cocaine," Duterte said in a speech before barangay leaders in Pasay City.

Cocaine bricks, amounting to millions of pesos, were recently found by local residents in Surigao del Sur, Davao Oriental, and Aurora.

Aquino, however, said the cocaine's market in the Philippines is only at two or three percent. He said cocaine in the Philippines is priced at P5,400 per gram.

Despite the recovery of cocaine bricks, Aquino believes that the government is still winning in its fight against illegal drugs.

"Based sa ating arrests at mga operations natin, nananalo naman tayo sa giyera sa iligal na droga. Maliban diyan, meron naman tayong lumabas na survey sa SWS na kumokonti na ang drug users sa bansa. That's an indicator that we are winning the war on drugs," he said.

Duterte has vowed for a "harsher" approach in curbing illegal drugs, saying that he will continue his drug war until the end of his term in 2022.

For the PDEA chief, this means more anti-illegal drug operations will be conducted, more arrests of drug personalities, and a harsher penalty for them.

"Talagang mas madugo, mas maraming arrest at operation at maybe magiging harsh na magkakaroon ng death penalty. 'Yun ang tingin kong ibig sabihin ng Presidente natin," Aquino said. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News