PDEA official threatens libel on two reporters

A PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency threatened to file libel charges against a reporter for a story that linked him to a payoff that reportedly facilitated the release of a drug pusher last week.

In a statement the Defense PNP Press Corps said PDEA Director Adrian Alvariño is considering to file charges against Banat News correspondent Rey Pasaporte and GMA-7 Balitang Bisdak reporter Chona Carreon.

Alvarino, who was transferred to the agency’s central office in Manila following a stint as regional director in Cebu, reportedly vented his ire on Pasaporte in two text messages for a news story he wrote on drug suspect Yongyong Villaceran.

According to the press corps, the PDEA official refused to be interviewed since the buy-bust operation that led to Villaceran’s arrest occurred on Sept. 21, or six days after he was transferred to the PDEA central office.

The news story supposedly linked him to an P800,000 alleged payoff that facilitated Villaceran’s release.

The Defense PNP Press Corps, which covers the police and military beats, said the payoff angle came in a text message sent by unnamed sources to their members.

The operation was confirmed by the Police Regional Office (PRO-7).

The text messages sent to Pasaporte were reported in the blotter of the Cebu City Intelligence Branch (CIB).

Aside from Alvarino, there were other three PDEA agents allegedly involved in the operation. Correspondent Chito Aragon