THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) condemned Wednesday, February 20, the killing of one of its agents in Camarines Sur which it claimed is intended to demoralize the anti-narcotics agency.

PDEA Intelligence Officer 2 Enrico Barba, an assistant provincial officer of PDEA Camarines Norte Provincial Office, was reported missing since Monday, February 18, after he went to Daet to meet an informant regarding the drug activities in the area.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said Barba’s mission was fully documented and disclosed to his Provincial Officer Agent Vidal Bacolod, who relayed the same to the regional director.

Around 8 p.m. of February 18, however, Barba’s body was found with several gunshot wounds and contusions, which Aquino said is “indicative of ruthlessness.”

“We condemn the criminals behind this killing. We believe that this is a planned act with an intent to demoralize our agents, as the illegal drugs syndicates try to shake our core,” Aquino said.

“We strongly defy the threat and we strongly condemn this violence against our agents,” he added.

He assured, however, that Barba’s death will not be worthless and not dampen the agency’s campaign against illegal drugs.

“His service to the country, as commendable as it is will be used as an inspiration and motivation to strike harder against the operators of the illegal drugs industry,” said Aquino.

"We will not be moved by this incident as we will escalate our effort to give justice to our fallen comrade, a good father to his children and a loving husband to his wife. We will remain steadfast," he added.

The PDEA chief said he already tapped the Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation to help in the probe into Barba’s murder. (SunStar Philippines)