AFP forming battalion-size task force for war on drugs

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Eduardo Año said the military will organize a battalion-size task force that will join the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the government's war against drugs.

Año, attending the Philippine Military Academy alumni homecoming in Baguio City, told reporters on Saturday night that the 500-strong task force will have a "strike force" that may be used by PDEA in its anti-illegal drugs operations.

"It's yet to be created, but we are talking about a battalion-size [task force]," he said.

President Rodrigo Duterte had asked the AFP to support the PDEA, which has been tasked to lead the government's war on drugs.

Duterte ordered the PDEA to takeover the lead in the war on drugs from the Philippine National Police, which he had tagged as "corrupt to the core."

Año said that even before Duterte told the AFP to help PDEA, he had met with the agency's chief, Isidro Lapeña, to create a plan on how the military can support the war on drugs.

He said that the AFP is just waiting for an executive order formally tasking the military to join the PDEA's campaign against illegal drugs.

"Even without the EO, we are ready to operate with PDEA, with PDEA as the [lead agency] and we are just support. We already talked and we can start actually doing operations if there is a target package," said Año.

Even as he clarified that the entire AFP cannot be tapped to support the PDEA's operations, Año said the military can assign as much as 5,000 personnel "depending on the situation."

At least 7,000 drug personalities have been killed in vigilante-style killings and police anti-drugs operations since Duterte was sworn into office in June last year.

The PNP has stopped the implementation of Project Tokhang, where millions of drug personalities have surrendered.

Año clarified that the troops that will be assigned to aid the PDEA will not be involved in Project Tokhang or going door-to-door, convincing drug personalities to surrender.

He also said that soldiers will not be used in buy-bust operations.

He said the AFP will only be involved in the PDEA's operations against "high-level drug syndicates." —ALG, GMA News