THE Davao Region office of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said it still awaiting from the national office the operational guidelines in conducting anti-drug operations with the return of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the war on drugs.
PDEA 11 Chief Operations Officer Naravy Duquiatan told SunStar Davao that their drug operations with the PNP will depend on the nature of the case they will hold if it would require additional forces from the PNP.
"Pwede din po kami mg joint, pwede din hindi. It depends on the situation. For now, we are still waiting for the operational guidelines," she said.
Last October 10, President Rodrigo Duterte issued a memorandum order directing concerned agencies except Pdea to stop their operation and only Pdea will carry out these anti-illegal operations in response to the criticisms of human rights groups and foreign governments amid alleged killings hurled against the war on drugs campaign.
"Pdea is still the lead agency. PNP will participate in the anti-drug operation," he said.
After two months, Duterte again released a Memorandum Order No. 17 dated December 5 directing the PNP and other law enforcement agencies including the National Bureau of Investigation, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Customs, and Philippine Coast Guard to resume in providing active support to Pdea in the conduct of anti-illegal drug operations.
"The PDEA shall continue to be the overall lead agency in the anti-illegal drug campaign pursuant to Republic Act No. 9165 and shall coordinate with all government efforts through the Inter-agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) created Executive Order No. 15 issued on March 6, 2017," the memo said.
In an earlier report, Police Regional Office in Davao Region (PRO-11) said it welcomes the order of the President and PRO 11 regional director Manuel Gaerlan led in selecting personnel who will be part of the Drug Enforcement Unit.
A reorientation will also take place for selected personnel on the provision of the RA 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 as well as the operational procedures in conducting drug-related operation to ensure that human rights are upheld.