Aguirre orders return of NBI to ‘drug war’

Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to resume its drug operation after President Rodrigo Duterte has allowed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to return and “actively participate” in the government’s war against illegal drugs.

“I already issued a Department Order directing the NBI to resume its anti-illegal drugs operation,” Aguirre said in a text message on Wednesday.

Last October, Duterte ordered the PNP to stop its anti-illegal drugs drive and has let the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) take the helm of the so-called drug war, following allegations of human rights abuses committed by the police.    /kga