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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PDEA-NCR chief relieved over arrest of 3 agents in Taguig buy-bust

PDEA-NCR chief relieved over arrest of 3 agents in Taguig buy-bust

Published Dec 12, 2022 04:55 pm

The head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Metro Manila was sacked from his post following the incident in Taguig Cuity wherein three agents were arrested for allegedly selling recycled shabu inside their office.

Christian Frivaldo was replaced by Emerson Rosales PDEA-National Capital Region chief.

Also, PDEA Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo all the other PDEA Southern District Office personnel were recalled because of last week’s incident.

PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon said Frivaldo was ordered relieved last week for command responsibility.

“That’s a normal course (of action) when there are incidents like that, (its) command responsibility,” said Carreon on the relief of Frivaldo as PDEA-NCR director.

“If there are incidents like that, (a PDEA official) is getting relieved administratively. It’s not because he is facing a case but because of the incident. It’s normal to be relieved from a post,” he added.

Police conducted a buy-bust operation at the PDEA South District Office in Taguig where Enrique Lucero, chief of the PDEA Southern District Office, PDEA agents Anthony Vic Alabastro and Jaireh Llaguno and driver Mark Warren Mallo were arrested.

Seized during the operation were three sachets containing suspected shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) weighing 100 grams and valued at P680,000, one plastic of suspected shabu weighing 1,250 grams with a value of P8.5 million, P1,000 bill mixed with 99 pieces of P1,000 fake bills used as buy-bust money, a .40-caliber pistol and a digital weighing scale.

Charges of sale and possession of illegal drugs have been already filed against Lucero and his companions before the Taguig City prosecutor’s office on Dec. 8.

Lazo said Taguig City mayor Lani Cayetano has declined a request from the new PDEA-NCR director and PDEA’s community relations officer for a courtesy call last week to discuss the matter.

“That’s the call of the local government. I know pretty well that the building, and everything is paid for by the LGU. Maybe they (LGU officials) were saddened that the building was used for wrongdoing. We will continue to know on the door of Taguig LGU and hopefully they will consider to allow us use the building,” Lazo said.

Lazo will request Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos to help PDEA in convincing the Taguig City government to reconsider its stance.

“I hope the SILG (Secretary of Interior and Local Government) will help me also to convince the mayor. Hopefully, they will reconsider their stance because we are really in need of having a good office there,” said Lazo.

Abalos said that he will talk to the city government of Taguig in connection with the temporary suspension of its support to the PDEAdue to the involvement of its personnel to illegal drug activities.

The Taguig City government turned over to PDEA a newly-constructed building in 2018, in support of its anti-drug mandate. (Chito A. Chavez)

Related Tags

Moro Virgilio Lazo taguig city government withdrew pdea support taguig city buy-bust pdea-ncr director relieved pdea agents arrested by NCRPO personnel
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