Taguig suspends support for PDEA after agents yield shabu in Bicutan

The Taguig City government temporarily suspended its support for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as it condemned in an “unequivocable manner” the alleged involvement of some of its officials in illegal drug operations.

"The City of Taguig condemns in an unequivocable manner the illegal drug activities of PDEA Southern District Office Chief, two PDEA agents, and one driver who were arrested in an operation conducted at the city-owned building which serves as PDEA office. It is a betrayal of the highest order," the city government said in a Friday press statement.

The statement went on to say that the criminal participation of drug enforcers in illicit drug activities, using facilities provided by the city, was repugnant and inexcusable. The involvement of PDEA officers in the criminal activities they are supposed to stop had forced the city to reconsider its decision.

“The city is temporarily suspending its support to and coordination with PDEA pending the outcome of the criminal investigation. The city insists that those involved should be held accountable,” said the Taguig government.

According to the LGU, the city-owned building was turned over to PDEA in 2018 to escalate their support to the anti-drug agency. The incident, however, prompted them to demand the headquarters be returned to the city to be repurposed for other public use.

They likewise said they would only resume their support for PDEA “once it has shown serious efforts to cleanse its ranks of scalawags”, reiterating Taguig City imposes a zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs.

“While the city is dismayed at PDEA's abject failure to monitor the activities of agents it stationed in Taguig, it is gratified that the PNP-NCRPO and the Southern Police District did not shrink from their duty to go after all drug violators, particularly those who ironically are tasked to be on the forefront of the anti-drug campaign. The city thanks the PNP officers for their loyalty to their oaths of office,” Taguig City said.

Apprehended during a December 7 buy-bust operation in Barangay Upper Bicutan were PDEA Southern District Office chief Enrique Lucero, agents Anthony Vic Alabastro and Jaireh Llaguno, and their driver Mark Warren Mallo.

Seized from the suspects were a kilogram of suspected shabu worth around P9.18 million, four firearms, a digital weighing scale, and buy-bust money.

GMA News Online had sought comment from the PDEA on the matter, but the agency had yet to respond as of posting time. — DVM, GMA Integrated News