Drug bureau: No demoralization

AN OFFICIAL of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Davao Region said the removal of assistant secretary Carlos Gadapan, Deputy Director General for Operations, will not affect the entire operation of the bureau neither the morale of personnel here.

In an interview, PDEA Davao Director Emerson R. Rosales, said despite the brouhaha in PDEA central office, the PDEA here will continue to perform its tasks with commitment, respect for human dignity, excellence, and competence, in the pursuit of the vision of a drug-free country.

"Although we are subordinate unit of the PDEA national office, each unit in all regions is independent in terms of operations. Thus, what happened there does not affect others, unless there's a directive from the national office that there will be changes," Rosales said.

Rosales added that as far as he is concerned, there were no changes that have been imposed on subordinate units of the national bureau.

When asked about the removal of Gadapan from his position, Rosales refused to comment on the matter. He added that they do not have any idea of what had happened.

"Nagulat na nga lang ako ng ibinalita na kung ano na ang nangyayari sa national. Let us wait until the investigation is done kasi hindi ko rin alam kung ano ang puno't dulo ng lahat," Rosales said.

Rosales assured that personnel here will do their best to perform their sworn mandate to serve the public.

Reports said Gadapan was accused of graft and corruption. There were also reports that he was relieved from his post because of some personal reasons. (ICT)