Personnel of the Philippine Army stationed in Bohol are prepared to be deployed to assist the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in going after illegal drug suspects.
This was bared by 47th Infantry Battalion (IB) commander Lt. Col. Dodjie Belloga Jr. even as the PDEA has yet to formally meet with the Army officer and discuss soldiers’ involvement in anti-drug operations.
Belloga told DYRD Balita on Tuesday that soldiers of the 47th IB have not yet been joining PDEA, the lead agency in the government’s anti-narcotics drive, in conducting anti-drug operations.
Previously, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief of staff General Eduardo Año said that the military personnel will be targeting big drug syndicates as it was tasked to join the anti-drug drive.
However, Belloga said that the 47th IB will be joining PDEA-Bohol agents in going after street-level drug personalities if called upon.
After the suspension of the Philippine National Police’s anti-drug operations, the PDEA has been tasked to lead the government’s war on drugs while the AFP was tapped to support the agency. (Rey Tutas)