PDEA warns public on bogus agents

MANILA, Philippines – Be wary of bogus Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents.

This was the warning sent by the PDEA Thursday as it expressed alarm over the rising number of incidents involving drug personalities who pose as PDEA agents.

One recent incident was the operation conducted by the PDEA Regional Office 3, which occurred last Jan. 27.

In the spot report given to Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez Jr. by PDEA Region 3 Acting Director Ronald Allan Ricardo, their anti-narcotics team conducted an operation around 3:30 p.m. in Barangay Sipat, Plaridel, Bulacan and successfully arrested Arturo Morales.

During the course of their investigation, it was discovered that Morales was a former Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel who was posing as a PDEA agent. It was also discovered that he was involved in other crimes such as extortion, robbery, and rape.

Confiscated from Morales were three heat-sealed transparent plastic sachets of suspected shabu which were immediately forwarded to the PDEA Laboratory Service for examination.

Morales is now held at the PDEA Regional Office 3. He will be charged for violations of Section 5 and 11, Article II of RA 9165 for sale and possession of illegal drugs.

Gutierrez warned the public not to be easily duped by delinquents who pose as PDEA agents to carry out their illegal activities. He said he was personally offended by their "scheme" and urged the public to be watchful and immediately report to PDEA any unscrupulous individual.

“Our agents have undergone training for months, imbibing in them the values and the mission of the agency to eradicate illegal drugs and serve the public. We will not tolerate unscrupulous people who introduce themselves as agents just to tarnish the integrity of PDEA and sell illegal drugs, which our Agents have sworn to destroy,” he said.

The PDEA also reported Thursday the arrest of a former police non-commissioned police officer and his accomplice after they were caught in a buy-bust operation last Jan. 28 in Palo, Leyte.

Former PO2 Elmer Ampong, alias "Otik" and Alfredo Lacbayo Jr., both residents of Barangay A., Borlongan City, Eastern Samar, were arrested by operatives of PDEA Regional Office 8, under the supervision of Director Julius R. Navales.

Confiscated from the suspects were one brick of cocaine, one Colt Mark IV Series 80 caliber .45 pistol with serial number 287431, one magazine for caliber .45 with six rounds of live ammunition, one fan knife (balisong) and the buy-bust money representing P50,000.

source: mb.com