A TOTAL of 89 personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Western Visayas will be transferred to Central Visayas Friday, August 3.
PDEA-Western Visayas spokesperson David Garcia confirmed to SunStar Bacolod on Thursday, August 2, that PDEA-Western Visayas Director Wardley Getalla will swap posts with PDEA Central Visayas director Emerson Margate.
Only Garcia and three personnel holding “highly-technical” posts will remain in PDEA-Western Visayas.
Meanwhile, 91 personnel from PDEA-Central Visayas will also be affected by the national revamp.
The order came from PDEA chief Aaron Aquino following the killing of Earl Rallos, deputy chief for operations of PDEA-Central Visayas.
Rallos, who was a former radio broadcaster before he entered PDEA, was shot to death while driving his car in Cebu City on July 27.
Aquino has ordered all operating units to exercise extreme and prudent caution in the performance of their duties and responsibilities.
In a press release, Aquino said the lateral movement of personnel is a regular practice in drug law enforcement to increase flexibility and adaptability within the organization.
“Though they are about to expose themselves to unfamiliar territory, it is a welcome benefit for the transferees to learn new knowledge and skills set, an opportunity for professional growth,” he added.
"It is a straight swap between the entire workforce of PDEA regional offices in Western Visayas and Central Visayas, including its regional directors, with the exception of technical personnel such as chemists and drug regulatory officers," Aquino said.
The PDEA chief also said that the movement is part of the continuing internal cleansing program of the agency.
“We need to transfer people to avoid familiarity and affinity in their areas of responsibility so as not to compromise credibility and integrity,” Aquino said.