Anti-drug body gets 199 new agents

MANILA, Philippines—A total of 199 recruits became full-fledged agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Friday after completing a six-month training course.

The new agents were handed their badges at the 5th Commencement Exercises for the Drug Enforcement Officers’ Basic Course at the PDEA headquarters in Quezon City.

PDEA Director General Jose Gutierrez Jr. congratulated the new PDEA agents with the class name “Kaisang-Alab,” short for “kaakibat sa iisang adhikain upang labanan ang bawal na droga”, which roughly translated means a partner in one cause to fight illegal drugs.

“Out of more than 3,000 applicants, only 206 qualified for training and out of these 97 percent passed the academic and non-academic requirements to become PDEA agents,” Gutierrez said.

“I have high hopes that the 199 new PDEA agents will exemplify the agency core values of self-less service, honor, dedication, excellence and competence,” he added.

The agents’ training started in August at the PDEA Academy in Silang, Cavite, under Superintendent Crisostomo Bas Jr.

Agent Rudyard Ruben Capito received the “Director General’s Award,” the highest award given to a cadet after he got the best grade among the batch mates.