The National Bureau of Investigation is still part of the government’s war on drugs despite the suspension of the agency’s anti-narcotics operations, said an NBI-Bohol official.

According to Atty. Arcelito Albao, NBI Bohol executive officer and supervising agent, the agency will extend support to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) which has been tasked to lead the government’s war on drugs.

Albao said that they will be coordinating with the PDEA and relaying to them drug-related information.

However, both the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the NBI have been ordered to suspend their anti-drug operations while they have been barred from filing drug charges and investigating drug cases.

Based on a memorandum circular issued by Department of Justice Sec. Vitaliano Aguirre on Friday, there is no deadline in the suspension of the NBI’s anti-drug operations.

Albao said that the NBI is still up for the job of going after drug personalities but the agency has its hands tied due to Pres. Duterte’s orders.

The NBI official said that the agency will instead focus on the crackdown on corruption and other crimes.

The suspension of the NBI and PNP’s anti-illegal drug operations was ordered in the wake of a scandal involving the abduction and murder of South Korean trader Jee Ick-joo inside Camp Crame on Oct. 18, 2016. (Rey Tutas)