Eleazar: Violators of PDEA-PNP joint rules on drug ops will face penalties
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar. INQUIRER file photo / Niño Jesus Orbeta
MANILA, Philippines — Sanctions will be imposed against police officers and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) agents who will violate the to-be-released unified rules on drug operations, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said Monday.
Eleazar emphasized the need for “efficient” supervision by unit commanders to guarantee that their men would strictly abide by the joint guidelines between the PDEA and PNP, which will be released soon.
“I would like to stress that those who will not follow the unified rules will face sanctions. May kaakibat po na penalties ang guidelines para sa PDEA agents at PNP personnel na mapapatunayang sumuway sa uniform rules,” Eleazar said in a statement.
(I would like to stress that those who will not follow the unified rules will face sanctions. There are penalties in the guidelines for PDEA agents and PNP personnel that will be proven to have violated the uniform rules.)
Eleazar explained that the new protocols are set to avoid “misencounters” and “miscoordination” between PNP and PDEA and to ensure coordination among personnel in anti-illegal drug operatives.
Article continues after this advertisement“Once these unified operating guidelines are finalized and released to our men on the ground, I need the efficient supervision by our ground commanders to ensure that the rules are strictly followed by our operatives,” Eleazar said.
Article continues after this advertisementThe PDEA-PNP uniform guidelines were created following the February 24 shootout between the agencies’ operatives at a mall along Commonwealth, Quezon City.
A top-level meeting between the two agencies was held in May to address gaps in coordination and interoperability after an almost misencounter in Fairview in the same month.
READ: Top PNP, PDEA officials meet after near ‘misencounter’
“This way, our law enforcement agencies would be more effective and efficient in carrying out their operations toward the eventual eradication of the country’s illegal drug trade,” Eleazar said.
According to PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva, the PDEA-PNP unified operational guidelines could be completed before the end of the month. Faith Yuen Wei Ragasa, Inquirer trainee
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