PDEA chief still enjoys Duterte’s trust

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Director General Aaron Aquino still enjoys the trust and confidence of President Duterte even if the Chief Executive sort of publicly reprimanded him for assuming there was shabu in the cargo seized by operatives in Cavite.

Duterte’s trust in Aquino has not diminished even after the President ruled out the possibility that a ton of shabu could have been shipped out of a warehouse last week, according to presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr.

“The President said there really was no direct evidence to prove those magnetic lifters contained drugs and there was even testing done to see if there was residue and there was none,”  Roque said in Filipino.

With his experience as a former prosecutor and a professor of criminal law,  Roque said Duterte could just be speaking from the perspective of a lawyer that if there is no evidence, there is no case.

“So, the conclusion on the basis of science is wala po (there was none) on those particular magnetic lifters,” Roque said.

The presidential spokesman added that the investigation now being undertaken by the National Bureau of Investigation may still proceed since the PDEA and police agents seized about P500-million worth of shabu in a previous operation.

“It continues because whoever is behind it should be investigated,” Roque said.

“An arrest was made, wasn’t it? Somebody was arrested. So what we’re only talking about is the statement that a lot of shipments have made it through. That’s what we’re saying, that we should not speculate,” he added.

As this developed, Duterte will not be at the behest of Trillanes or anybody if he subjects himself to any drug test, according to Roque, who was was reacting to the challenge of the opposition senator to the President and members of his family.

“I don’t know how to respond to Senator Trillanes because I have ignored many of his statements.  Right now, I do not know what to say other than the President was duly elected by the people, so if he wants to undergo drug testing, he will do it (voluntarily), not at the behest of anybody,” the spokesman said.

PDEA mum

In a related development, the PDEA has chosen to keep mum amid continuing issues hounding the alleged P6.8-billion shabu shipment that supposedly slipped past authorities last week.

PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon said they “cannot provide comment” on the issues as they are still conducting backtracking investigation on the alleged shabu shipment.

A House inquiry has already been conducted where the Bureau of Customs questioned PDEA’s allegation that the shabu shipment slipped past them, citing lab results that the magnetic lifters tested negative for illegal drugs. 

Carreon said they had “no comment” on Duterte’s statement that the alleged shabu shipment was mere speculation as Aquino is currently on personal leave until the end of the month.

Carreon said Aquino’s leave “has no relation whatsoever to the recent events.”

Innovative, ingenious

Meanwhile, Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said yesterday drug syndicates are becoming more innovative and ingenious in their ways of smuggling narcotics.

“The syndicates are really trying to outsmart us. They really analyzed how to confuse us and get one over on us,” the senior administration lawmaker said.

Barbers, chairman of the dangerous drugs committee of the House of Representatives, said the drug scourge has become so dangerous and complicated as international and local syndicates are now adopting innovative ways to sneak illegal drugs into the country.

Barbers said drug syndicates use several methods to mislead and confuse law enforcers, like using Taiwan and Hong Kong and different consignees for their shipments. – With Romina Cabrera, Delon Porcalla