‘No more seminars for PDEA agents in high-risk areas’

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will no longer participate in anti-drug seminars in high-risk and remote areas following the killing of its agents in Lanao del Sur last week.

If it could not be avoided, PDEA director general Aaron Aquino said they would coordinate with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National Police to help secure PDEA agents.

 Five PDEA agents were killed and two others were wounded in an ambush after attending a symposium for drug surrenderees in Kapai town last week.

Eight relatives of a drug suspect, who was killed in a drug bust, were charged in connection with the ambush.

”I have been telling my troops to be more alert, vigilant and aware of their surroundings,”Aquino added.