THE director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-National Capital Region (NCR) has been relieved in the wake of last week’s buy-bust operation that led to the arrest of a ranking PDEA official, two agents and a driver in their office in Taguig City.
PDEA chief Moro Virgillo Lazo announced yesterday the designation of Emerson Rosales as the new PDEA-NCR chief, replacing Christian Frivaldo.
“He is now the new regional director for NCR,” Lazo said of Rosales, the erstwhile director of PDEA-Western Visayas.
PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon said Frivaldo was ordered relieved last week for command responsibility.
“That’s a normal course (of action) when there are incidents like that; (it’s) command responsibility,” Carreon said. “If there are incidents like that, (a PDEA official) is getting relieved administratively. It’s not because he is facing a case but because of the incident.
It’s normal to be relieved from a post.”
Frivaldo’s relief came after the director of the PDEA-NCR’s Southern District Office, two agents and a driver were arrested in a buy-bust operation at the SDO office in Upper Bicutan, Taguig City last December 6.
Seized from the possession of the suspects — SDO director Enrique Lucero, PDEA agents Anthony Vic Alabastro and Jaireh Llaguno, and Lucero’s driver Mark Warren Mallo — were 1.35 kilos of shabu worth P9.18 million, the buy-bust money, four firearms, and a digital weighing scale.
Lazo also announced that all other SDO personnel have been recalled.
“All the people that we assigned in the Southern District Office have been replaced,” Lazo said without giving the number of SDO personnel who were replaced.
Carreon said is not aware how many personnel are running the SDO.
“I don’t have any idea on that. I am sorry, there are things that I am not familiar with.
They have a unit commander. Their regional director (of NCR) would know more about it,” said Carreon.
Last Friday, the Taguig City government asked the PDEA to turn over the building being used by SDO as it condemned the involvement of SDO personnel in the trade of illegal drugs. It said those involved should be held accountable.
Charges of sale and possession of illegal drugs were filed against Lucero and his cohorts before the Taguig City prosecutor’s office last Thursday.
Lazo said Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano has declined requests from the new PDEA-NCR director and PDEA’s community relations officer for a courtesy call last week to discuss the matter.
“That’s the call of the local government. I know pretty well that the building, everything is paid for by the LGU. Maybe they (LGU officials) were saddened that the building was used for a wrongdoing,” said Lazo.
“We will continue to knock on the door of Taguig LGU and hopefully they will consider to allow us to use the building,” said Lazo.
Lazo urged Interior Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos to help the PDEA in convincing the Taguig City government to reconsider its stance.
“I hope the SILG (Secretary of Interior and Local Government) will help me also to convince the mayor. Hopefully, they will reconsider their stance because we are really in need of having a good office there,” said Lazo.
Lazo, Abalos, PNP chief Rodolfo Azurin Jr and newly-promoted NCR Regional Office chief Maj. Gen Jonnel Estomo were at the NCRPO headquarters in Taguig City for the launching of the Buhay ay Ingatan, Droga ay Ayawan (BIDA) program.
During the event, the NCRPO presented its accomplishments in the ongoing war against illegal drugs in Metro Manila from December 3 to 9.
A total of 300 anti-drug operations in NCR were conducted during the period, leading to the arrest of 516 suspects, including 18 high-value targets, and the seizure of P39.6 million worth of illegal drugs, mostly shabu.
Abalos said they will intensify efforts against scalawags in law enforcement agencies in the aftermath of the arrest of the PDEA personnel.
“To the scalawags, stop (your illegal activities). In the coming days, we are coming up with a measure about this…We are going to cleanse our own ranks. To the scalawags, expect that we’re going after you,” said Abalos.
“That’s difficult. You are in the middle of a war and someone behind you shoots you in the back. That is not good, that’s not right. Don’t worry, probably in the coming weeks, we are doing something about this,” added Abalos.
