PDEA agents get P79.5M worth of guns, protective equipment

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Friday distributed to its regional offices several units of firearms and protective equipment worth P79.5 million to raise the capability of its agents in anti-drug operations.

Specifically, PDEA distributed 479 units of caliber .45 (Jericho 941 FS) worth over P15.3 million; 838 units of bullet-proof sando type vest worth P50.28 million; and 20 units of protective shields worth over P13.9 million.

LOOK: The PDEA distributed this morning several units of firearms and protective equipment worth P79.5 million to its regional offices. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/fhB66hYMMQ

— Cathrine Gonzales (@cgonzalesINQ) January 18, 2019

“These pieces of equipment are part of our operational capacity and capability enhancement program as we vow to intensity our fight against big-time druglords and high-value targets across the country,” PDEA chief Director General Aaron Aquino said in a statement.

Aquino said the new equipment will help regional units of PDEA to “boost their capability in the fight against illegal drugs.”

According to PDEA, the pistols are designed with advance technology features while the vests are designed to prevent penetration of projectiles from guns and shrapnel from explosives to the body. The vests, PDEA added, could also absorb the impact of bullets from caliber 9 mm pistol, caliber .45 pistol, and .44 magnum.

The protective shields, meanwhile, are capable of protecting the agents from projectile threats from caliber .45 pistol, .44 magnum, and 7.62 bullets, PDEA said. /kga