Palace: PDEA exec axed for good reason

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda PHOTO/INQUIRER

President Benigno Aquino sacked the deputy chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for a good reason and has ordered the investigation of the entire agency, Malacañang said Wednesday.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said the President’s decisions, including the relief of PDEA Deputy Director General Carlos Gadapan, were well-studied.

“The President does not act on whim when he decides to replace a person. The replacement, the relief of (Deputy) Director General Gadapan was with basis. As to what these bases are, we will withhold comment for now,” he said in a Malacañang briefing.

Lacierda, however, said that Malacañang would speak on the matter in due time “so the people would understand.”

“We will withhold comment for because PDEA is being investigated. We confirm that PDEA is being investigated,” he said. “As to what the details are, we don’t have the details.”

After Malacañang confirmed his  relief on Monday, citing the President’s loss of confidence in him, Gadapan griped that he was being eased out without due process and any investigation.

Gadapan accused his boss, PDEA Director General Jose Gutierrez, of asking the President to relieve him. He believed his decision to inform Gutierrez about his wife’s gambling losses prompted his boss to ask for his relief.

Gutierrez denied Gadapan’s charges, but deferred to the National Bureau of Investigation to complete its investigation of the agency’s affairs.

On Gadapan’s claim that he was unceremoniously relieved, Lacierda suggested that Gadapan study the terms of his job as a presidential appointee.

“A presidential appointee can be removed by loss of confidence. That’s different from an ordinary employee. Let’s just wait for the President to disclose the full report,” he said.

Lacierda said that Gadapan was free to air his grievances in public, even as he maintained that his relief had solid basis.