QUEZON CITY, Philippines – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) revealed that based on the ongoing revalidation of its “narcolist,” the agency has so far validated drug linkages of about 6 congressmen, 60 mayors, some vice mayors and 17 elected barangay officials.
According to PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino, the list also includes some soldiers, policemen and government employees. He also disclosed that some PDEA officials, particularly assigned in Calabarzon, the Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM,) and Northern Mindanao as having links to the illegal drugs trade.
Aquino assured that once the validation is completed, PDEA will proceed with filing appropriate charges against said officials. The PDEA Director stressed that they will not tolerate officials who are instrumental in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country.
“Wala namang palakasan iyan. Alam ninyo naman si Presidente malakas ka man sa kanya kaalyado ka man niya wala siyang pakialam, basta nasa narcopolitics ka, period! Hindi namin hihintuan ng pagta-tighten up yung case para mai-file yung kaso,” Aquino said.
Aquino, meanwhile, warned the public of the drug syndicates’ strategy in distributing illegal drug items such as the recently seized P74.8 million worth of shabu in Cavite and Paranaque City which were delivered through freight forwarding services.
Aquino added that the exchanges usually happen in malls.
“Ito iyong bagahe ko ibabalot ko iyan sa karton ng sapatos and then gift wrap ko. Iiwan ko sa baggage counter so kukunin ko numero ko. Ipapasa ko doon sa kakilala ko siya na ang kukuha noon. Iyon na ang magdi-distribute ng drugs,” Aquino concluded. – Joan Nano / Marje Pelayo
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