Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 7) — A district chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and three other personnel were apprehended during an anti-illegal drug operation in Taguig City late Tuesday, according to authorities.
Arrested were PDEA Southern District Office chief Enrique Lucero, PDEA agents Anthony Alabastro and Jaireh Llaguno, and driver Mark Wallo, the National Capital Region Police Office said in its report.
The four were nabbed at the PDEA SDO headquarters after a police officer posed as a buyer, the report added.
Seized from the suspects were three sachets containing white crystalline substances with an estimated Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) value of ₱680,000; one plastic of suspected shabu with DDB value of ₱8.5 million; and digital weighing scales.
Police said they are now under custody pending the filling of appropriate charges with the Taguig City Prosecutor’s Office.
The PDEA, meanwhile, vowed to conduct an internal investigation to “get to the bottom of the case.” The agency added it is also boosting its counter-intelligence efforts to check its ranks.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla refused to comment further, pending results of the probe.
“Don’t worry. We’re working on these matters. Kasama ‘yan sa agenda namin sa drug war [that’s part of our drug war agenda],” Remulla told reporters.
