New unit to banner cops’ fight vs drugs

CEBU, Philippines - A new anti-drug group will be formed soon under the Police Regional Office-7 in line with the Philippine National Police’s return in the campaign against illegal drugs.

Chief Superintendent Noli Taliño, PRO-7 director, yesterday said they would initially call the group the Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU), as per instruction from Camp Crame.

"Initially it will be called Drug Enforcement Group sa national.  Pero sa baba (region), it will be called Drug Enforcement Unit. Pinag-aaralan natin ngayon kasi ang instruction nga diyan is to create an organization na parang anti-illegal drug unit but it will not be called as an anti-illegal drug task force or task group" he said.

The PNP last month suspended its war on drugs after several cops were accused of kidnapping and then killing a Korean businessman right inside the PNP headquarters in Camp Crame in the guise of an anti-drug operation.

But President Rodrigo Duterte announced during a command conference last Monday that he will allow limited participation of the police in his controversial anti-drug campaign.

Taliño added that they would not go back to the old ways under Operation Tokhang and assured that the PNP will be more aggressive together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency -7.

"Wala nang Tokhang. Kung ibabalik man, hindi na tayo babalik sa Tokhang operation," he said.

Last January, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered Dela Rosa to suspend all police anti-drug operations and to give way to the PNP’s internal cleansing of their ranks.

Taliño said they are currently waiting for the national PNP’s full implementation of the DEU while internal cleansing continues.

“Tuloy-tuloy yan. If may police na-involved, tuloy-tuloy silang makakasohan. Kung kailangan i-dismiss, i-dismiss natin,” he said.

PDEA-7 Director Yogi Ruiz, in a separate interview, said the PNP’s return in the anti-illegal drugs campaign is a welcome development.

He said that since the PDEA is the lead agency in terms of anti-narcotic drug operations, the PNP would coordinate with them.

“Kay kung mas daghan og kontra ang sindikato, mas maayo para sa amoa," he said.

Cebu Capitol officials, meanwhile, welcomed the return of the PNP in the Duterte administration’s war against illegal drugs.

The president ordered the creation of smaller 'task forces' to be comprised of policemen with no record of corruption.

He said he was driven to make the decision because of the lack of military personnel to handle other conflicts, such as the offensive against the New People's Army and terrorists in Mindanao.

The PDEA would continue to lead the drug war. Anti-drug operations by the new police task forces would be supervised by PDEA.

Governor Hilario Davide III said it was an apt decision considering that PDEA is undermanned and lacks manpower.

“I am in favor of that kay kuwang gyud og tawo’ ang PDEA. Lisod kaayo kun ang AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) i-deploy sa kadalanan, sa community mura'g Martial Law. I’d like maapil ang PNP hand-in-hand together with PDEA but of course under the supervision of PDEA,” he said.

Cebu Provincial Anti-drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) chief Ivy Durano-Meca also said the renewed involvement of the PNP in the war against illegal drugs would further strengthen and boost the campaign.

“Dako atong kalipay. We believe the problems on drugs cannot be solved by one agency. It should be multi-sectoral and in collaboration with different law enforcement agencies,” she said.

CPADAO has been collaborating with the PNP in the implementation of its programs against illegal drugs in the province. — Christell Fatima M. Tudtud and Kristine B. Quintas (FREEMAN)