By CHITO CHAVEZ
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has vowed to relentlessly pursue the cleaning program in its ranks to weed out the agency’s undesirables.
PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino declared that stiffest punishment will surely be imposed to any PDEA personnel involved in the illegal drug trade.
He also expressed disgust to errant PDEA agents and personnel for being undesirable government servants who instead of supporting President Duterte’s drug war are the instruments of evil deeds.
Earlier, the agency had issued a strict order in light of the recent death of Intelligence Officer 1 (IO1) Macario Grasparil, Jr., a PDEA agent assigned in PDEA Regional Office VI (PDEA ROVI), during a buy-bust operation in his residence in District 1, Sibalom Antique on June 20.
Grasparil was the subject of the entrapment operation conducted by joint elements of Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit Central Antique and Sibalom Municipal Police Station.
Counter-intelligence reports indicated that Grasparil was allegedly involved in the illegal drug activities and recycling of drug evidence.
“The long arm of the law finally caught up with him [Grasparil]. Too bad he is not alive to face the consequences of his actions,” PDEA noted.
PDEA is carrying out investigations in the workplace regarding alleged personnel included in the watch list of drug personalities.
Once verified, the Aquino said the agency will not hesitate to arrest one of its own.
On the other hand, the PDEA Internal Affairs Service (IAS) is expediting resolutions on all cases against PDEA agents and personnel who were previously charged administratively.
