CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas said they need 1,395 additional men nationwide to address their lack of manpower to go after high-value targets.
PDEA-7 Regional Director Emerson Margate told reporters that as of present he only has 55 men to combat the illegal drug problem in the region while the current count nationwide is only 1,200 personnel.
“That’s really challenging. A problem sa manpower pa lang, grabe ‘yung problema tapos ito lang ‘yung manpower natin for drug-clearing efforts,” Margate said.
He said that sometimes operations are halted because his men have to attend court hearings and procedures.
Margate said it is really a problem when it comes to stretching their manpower with the current number of personnel they have, and said that if they are again designated the sole agency to conduct anti-illegal drug operations, it will be a double burden on their part.
It can be recalled that last year PDEA was tasked as the sole agency to conduct anti-illegal drug operations due to alleged human rights errors and mistakes in operational procedures committed by personnel of the Philippine National Police.
He said that they are now intensifying recruitment efforts, to reach their goal of 5,000 PDEA agents in the next five years.
Margate said that recruitment kicked off last year and the first batch will start their training by end of this month, while the second batch will start by September this year.
“As of present PDEA is recruiting 1,395 drug enforcement officers that is our quota for this year and we plan really to train that,” Margate said.
He said that for those who interested there is no height requirement, and the applicant must have civil service eligibility, no derogatory records, and must not be more than 35 years old.
According to Margate, the PDEA offers a stable career and compensation consummate to one’s rank.
“Siyempre secure ang job, career, and can open a lot of opportunities,” Margate said. (FREEMAN)