Philippine Army personnel in Bohol have been readied to provide support for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as the latter assumed its role as lead agency in the campaign against drugs.
The announcement from the Army’s 47th Infantry Battalion came after Pres. Duterte suspended anti-drug operations directly carried out by the police and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
According to 47th IB commander Lt. Col. Dodjie Belloga, military units in Bohol have been ready to extend support in anti-drug operations even before the suspension of Project Double Barrel, Duterte’s blueprint in his government’s war against drugs.
Prior to the changes in the roles of law enforcers, the provincial government had already formed Task Group Banat which is comprised of the police, military and PDEA as lead agency, said Belloga.
The Army officer noted that the same support previously extended to the police by the 47th IB will be also be provided to the PDEA in its anti-drug drive.
Belloga said that the army battalion stationed in Bohol has enough forces to accompany PDEA agents during anti-drug operations. (Allen Doydora)