MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) must investigate the convicts who continue to operate illegal drug activities, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Debold Sinas said Wednesday.
In a statement, Sinas ordered PDEG to work with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) to further verify the “information and initiate possible interdiction operations” on the reported drug rings inside prison.
The information on drug rings at the New Bilibid Prison (NBP) stemmed from the anti-drug operation against Michael Johnlery Olid, 29, and Arnel Degulacion, 42, who were killed in an armed encounter with lawmen at Barangay Mambaling on Tuesday at 10:30 p.m. Recovered from the crime scene were two kilograms of shabu or meth worth P13.6 million.
PDEG records showed that Olid and Degulacion were alleged “henchmen” of Ronald Aparecio Natividad, a convicted drug lord at San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm in Zamboanga City.
Further information showed that the deceased suspects coordinated with Natividad’s son Dave Kelleher, who is also detained at Mandaue City Jail over drug charges.