Retired Gen. Dionisio Santiago (File photo from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)
President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed Dionisio Santiago, a former chief of the Armed of the Forces of the Philippines (AFP), as the new chair of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), according to Secretary Martin Andanar of Presidential Communications Operations Office.
Andanar said on Saturday that the President named Santiago as DDB chair on Wednesday.
“That’s confirmed by Executive Secretary (Salvador Medialdea),” Andanar said.
Santiago replaces Benjamin Reyes, who was removed from his post for contradicting the government position that there were four million drug users in the Philippines.
The DDB is tasked with formulating policies and strategies to prevent and control the spread of illegal drugs.
Besides serving as AFP chief, Santiago also headed the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency from April 2006 to January 2011. /atm