THE Davao City Police Office (DCPO) has yet to receive the Command Memorandum Circular from the central office of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that states specific guidelines on the role of the police personnel on the re-launch of the anti-drug campaign, an official said.
The PNP recently launched its modified anti-drug campaign dubbed as the "Project Double Barrel: Reloaded" which will be under the new PNP anti-drug department, Philippine Drug Enforcement Group.
DCPO spokesperson Police Senior Inspector Catherine dela Rey told SunStar Davao Monday, March 6, that they will comply to whatever guidelines relayed to them by the central office.
She, however, said they have already received the formal directive last March 4 from the PNP headquarters, giving them the go signal to conduct anti-illegal drug operations on personalities involved in such unlawful activities.
Following the receipt of the order from the central office as of Monday, DCPO has already conducted six operations: one in Sta. Ana Police Station, two in Talomo and one in Bunawan, Tugbok and Buhangin with six persons arrested in close-coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
DCPO has also re-launched its campaign against illegal drugs with the creation of the City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU).
Dela Rey said the member of the CDEU were thoroughly screened to avoid recruiting scalawags who are involved in drug operations, extortion activities and are drug protectors. They are the only cops who are allowed to conduct illegal drug operations.
She said personnel assigned to the city and station drug enforcement units must have no derogatory record, must be reliable, must have good character and disciplined and incorruptible to ensure a clean reputation.
"They will also be subject to a background investigation to make sure that they are (not) involved in any illegal activities. Only personnel listed in the city and station DEU will be allowed to operate," dela Rey said.
PDEA-Davao Director Adzhara Albani, meanwhile, said in an interview with SunStar Davao that their agency continues to be the lead agency for curbing drug-related cases.
He said they are looking forward to work hand-in-hand with the newly-formed anti-drug task force of the PNP connected with the anti-drug campaign.
"Katong pag-undang sa Oplan Tokhang, kami ang nagtake-over sa high value ug high-impact operations. Ang challenge is kulang ang mga tao na mag handle sa trabaho. Karon na gibalik na nila, nanghinaot mi na mas mapakusog pa among force (When Oplan Tokhang was suspended we took over on the high value and high-impact operations. The challenge then was we lacked the manpower to conduct the operations. Now that the anti-drug campaign of PNP is back, we hope that they will strengthen our forces)," he said.
Albani said they are still the main agency that will handle drug-related operations.
"We are still the lead agency according to law. Meaning kami gihapun ang naga-coordinate sa ilaha (This means we will still coordinate with them)," Albani said.
Upon the recommencement of the anti-illegal drug campaign of PNP, PDEA-Davao will focus on monitoring the barangays in Davao City which still have recurring drug cases, he said.
PDEA replaced the PNP-Anti-Illegal Drugs Group after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered its disbandment following the involvement of several officers in the kidnap slay of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo on October 2016.