The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, led by Dir. Gen. Aaron Aquino (third from right), destroys P6-billion in illegal drugs in Trece Martirez in Cavite. INQUIRER.NET / NOY MORCOSO
About P228.81 million worth of illegal drugs were seized while 1,321 suspects were arrested during the first 100 days of Aaron Aquino as chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
In a press statement on Wednesday, the PDEA touted the agency’s accomplishments which included 3,476 anti-drug operations and 2,063 drug cases filed in court.
Aquino, former police chief superintendent and former regional director of Police Regional Office 3, was appointed to the PDEA by President Rodrigo Duterte in August.
He formally took office on Sept. 12, 2017, after Isidro Lapeña was appointed as commissioner of the Bureau of Customs.
The agency said it seized about 36,705 grams of shabu, 16,629 grams of dried marijuana leaves, 4,343 marijuana seedlings, 50,000 grams of marijuana stalks, 1,183 grams of cocaine, 54 pieces of ecstasy, as well as date rape drugs during the period.
331 high-value targets arrested
The PDEA said 331 of the arrested suspects were “high-value targets.”
Among the targets was Maasim, Saranggani, Mayor Aniceto Lopez who was arrested after authorities seized P5 million worth of shabu at his home last Oct. 6, the PDEA said.
Former actor Cogie Domingo was also among the high-value targets, PDEA said, after 20 grams of shabu were seized during a buy-bust operation in BF Homes, Parañaque City.
The PDEA also included 11 male drug suspects who were arrested during a sexual orgy and drug session inside Seda Hotel at the Bonifacio Global City last Nov. 26. About P387,000 worth of illegal drugs were seized.
It also tagged as high-value targets two African Drug Syndicate members who were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Kawit, Cavite, last Nov. 8 and a Colombian drug mule who was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport last Nov. 12.
Barangay clearing efforts
The PDEA said 547 barangays across the country were declared “drug-free” during Aquino’s first 100 days.
It touted Romblon province’s declaration of a “drug-cleared” status last Nov. 13 after meeting the requirements set by the Dangerous Drugs Board.
Romblon is the second province after Batanes that was declared “drug-free,” the PDEA said.
On Dec. 4, Tacloban City was also declared drug-free after meeting the DDB requirements, the agency said. /cbb