The Southern Police District announced Wednesday the arrest of the chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Southern District Office (PDEA-SDO) and two PDEA agents in a buy-bust operation Tuesday night in Taguig City.
The suspects — PDEA-SDO chief Enrique Lucero and agents Anthony Vic Alabastro and Jaireh Llaguno — were allegedly involved in selling drugs.
Seized from the suspects were a total 1.3 kilos of shabu worth more than P9 million, four PDEA service firearms, a digital weighting scale, and the cash and boodle money used in the operation.
Prior to the arrest, a police officer acted as a buyer and was able to transact with the suspects.
SPD director Brig. Gen. Kirby Kraft said Lucero and his men, along with driver Mark Warren Mallo, were arrested at their office at Bonifacio Street in Barangay Upper Bicutan around 9 p.m.
The four are now in the custody of the National Capital Region Police Office and will be charged with criminal offenses in relation to the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act before the Taguig City Prosecutors Office.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government commended the composite team of policemen who conducted the operation in line with the Marcos administration’s renewed anti-narcotics campaign dubbed “BIDA” or Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan program.
Meanwhile, PDEA stressed the importance of cooperation among all law enforcement agencies to ensure the successful implementation of the national anti-drug campaign.
PDEA and the PNP agreed to strengthen their collaborative efforts to deal decisive and crippling blows against well-organized local and international drug syndicates, including going after scalawags in drug law enforcement.
According to PDEA, as a testimony to the strong partnership between the agency and the PNP, a buy-bust operation was conducted recently by local police that led to the arrest of PDEA operatives inside the PDEA Southern District Office along A. Bonifacio Street, Barangay Upper Bicutan, Taguig City.
The operation was properly coordinated with PDEA, an indispensable requirement before drug law enforcement units could carry-out anti-drug operations.
The government launched the anti-illegal drugs advocacy program BIDA, describing it as an intensified and more holistic campaign from the grassroots up.
While Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. vowed to put drug dealers behind bars, BIDA is anchored on physical activities and cooperation from the grassroots level to deter drug use and protect human lives.
“We will enforce the law and fill the jails with people like you who destroy the future of the youth and the families,” said Abalos.
But for those who want to turn over a new leaf, Abalos assured the government is ready to help them through drug rehabilitation and livelihood training programs to help them lead productive and drug-free lives.
