PDEA warns of fake agents on the loose

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas has warned the public against armed individuals claiming to be its personnel conducting illegal activities such as robbery and kidnapping.

PDEA-7 regional director Levi Ortiz said they have been receiving these reports for a long time now and that these individuals remain unidentified.

Ortiz said they have now coordinated with the Philippine National Police (PNP) for an investigation into the matter.

“Naa pud tay gipangutana nga PNP, ang intel community, then sila pud wala pa silay info kung kinsa ng mga tawhana,” said Ortiz.

This after a report reached the office that persons introduced themselves as PDEA agents allegedly kidnapped an 18-year-old.

Ortiz said that it was a clear modus that these unidentified persons are trying to mislead the people. He added that every PDEA operation undergoes a legal process.

“Nagpahibawo mi sa mga tawo nga dili na maoy practice sa PDEA nga dili na mahibaw-an ang whereabouts. Naa man gud tay legal process sa atong operations. In fact, kabalo gyud ang media as usa sa mga witnesses ug naa gyud tay inventory sa place of incident,” said Ortiz.

Ortiz also said that similar report has been going on for a while now and is determined to be alarming enough since it could create doubts on the people.

“Ang trabaho sa PDEA is buy-bust, dakop, pwede ra gamiton dayon ba, convenient para sa ila nga isulti ang pangan sa PDEA para legitimize kunuhay ang ilang trabaho. Dili maka arouse og kalagot sa mga tawo sa area. Dili sila matabangan ba. Ilang i-mislead ang tawo, we don’t know who these people are,” said Ortiz.

Ortiz also said the motive of these individuals could be robbery or personal grudge against the agency.

The PDEA-7, however, is determined to file the complaint against them the moment they will be identified.

For information, Ortiz said, the public could demand to check the badges of the operatives during the operation for validation.

“Unya right after the incident, automatic na nga mag inventory ta sa item diha sa area of operation,” said Ortiz.

“Naay instance nga dal-on sa laing area if naay chances nga magpinusilay or naay mga armed group nga ma detect-an ang operatiba sa area nga delikado na sila og ilang kinabuhi,” he added.

Drug den

Meanwhile, the members of PDEA-7 were able to dismantle a drug den which resulted into the arrest of at least seven individuals in Sto. Niño Street, Barangay Suba, Cebu City.

The arrested individuals were identified as certain Cristito M. Mijares, the subject of the operation and the drug den maintainer, and his cohort, Cinderella Jimenez, 41, who were both residents of the said place.

Also arrested were five drug den visitors identified as certain Ernani Daro, 31; Rodrigo Biatingo, 28; Anthony Torbila, 18; Randy Mijarez, 35, and a 17-year old water vendor.

Confiscated during the operation were 14 packs of suspected shabu weighing more or less 18 grams worth P122,400. — GMR (FREEMAN)