FILE PHOTO: Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — The decision on whether the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) would follow the lead of the Philippine National Police, in terms of asking officials to tender courtesy resignations due to alleged drug trade involvement, rests on its officials, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla said.
Remulla, in an ambush interview on Friday, was asked if PDEA should follow PNP’s move, wherein officials from the rank of colonel up to general were asked to resign to allow an independent five-person committee to assess their profile first.
In response, Remulla said he spoke with PDEA Director General Moro Virgilio Lazo about that, but the Department of Justice (DOJ) chief said it is possible, but it is up to Lazo.
“Kanina kausap ko si ano, naka-daupang palad ko lang si DG Lazo. And pinag-uusapan namin ‘yan, it’s a possibility,” Remulla said.
(A while ago, I talked to him, and I happened to meet DG Lazo. And we talked about that. It’s a possibility.)
“We don’t know. It’s up to him also if he needs that free hand,” he added.
Remulla said that he thinks Lazo has a reorganizational plan for PDEA.
“But I think he’s doing a reorganization plan for PDEA,” Remulla noted.
On Wednesday, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. made a surprise announcement, asking all PNP colonels and generals to submit their courtesy resignation, including PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr., as he fears that some officials in the PNP leadership may have its hands on the drug trade already.
A day after, Azurin and his command group resigned, urging other officials to do the same, noting that they have nothing to fear if they have done nothing wrong.
READ: Abalos seeks courtesy resignation of all PNP colonels, generals amid possible drug links
READ: PNP chief Azurin not spared from courtesy resignation — Abalos
Under Abalos’ plan, the proposed five-person committee will check on the status of the PNP officials. The courtesy resignation of those who are cleared from drug involvement would be rejected, while the resignation of those with links would be approved.
READ: Injustice no more: Azurin sees resignations as a way to salvage PNP execs’ honor
The ambush interview came hours after Remulla’s son, Juanito Remulla III, was acquitted of illegal drug possession charges. This was after the prosecution failed to prove that the suspect knew that the package handed to him contained kush, a more potent variant of cannabis still illegal in the country.
The younger Remulla was arrested last October after PDEA agents conducted a controlled-delivery operation, as he claimed the package contained the illegal substance.
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