Armed Forces Chief of Staff Gen. Eduardo M. Año reaffirmed last Sunday the military’s commitment to the country’s war against illegal drugs, citing their February 2017 Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
“The pronouncement came after President Duterte signed a memorandum tasking PDEA as sole agency to conduct the anti-illegal drugs campaign of the government,” military public affairs office Col. Edgard Arevalo said.
“The Armed Forces of the Philippines has always been in support role to the PDEA, Philippine National Police [PNP] and the National Bureau of Investigation [NBI] in any illegal- drugs operations, unless we are otherwise requested to lead, especially in conflict-affected areas,” he added.
The recent memorandum from the commander in chief signed on October 10 directed the “PNP, NBI, Bureau of Customs and all other government agencies to leave to the PDEA the conduct of all campaigns and operations”.
“In line with the February 2017 MOA, the AFP has been a significant force provider to the anti-illegal drugs operations, especially in conflict-affected areas, particularly where conditions for insurgency, secessionism and terrorism persist,” Año said.
The military also expanded the Joint Counterintelligence Task Force NOAH, an ad hoc unit created and mandated by the AFP to conduct drugs-related counterintelligence operations.
NOAH assists law-enforcement agencies in the identification, investigation and neutralization of persons in the use, sale, manufacture and distribution of illegal drugs.
Regional task groups under the AFP Unified Commands were also established to coordinate direct action, intelligence, legal support and community relations to the PDEA, as force employer, and its regional offices nationwide.
Data from the regional task groups showed that a total of 6,981 operations have been jointly conducted since July 2016 up to September 2017, resulting in the arrest of 1,241 drug suspects and the killing of 146.
Joint raids of drug laboratories also yielded in the seizure of a total of P1.9 billion worth of shabu manufacturing equipment, significantly crippling the production of methamphetamine in the country.
More than 52 kilos of shabu were also confiscated in the operations.
Internal security operations conducted against terror groups also resulted in the neutralization of several drug suspects in Mindanao.
The military apprehended Abu Sayyaf Group kidnap-for-ransom leader and illegal-drug pusher Butchoy Hassan, alias Black and Bocci, in Sitangkai, Tawi-Tawi, on March 14.
Hassan was also wanted in Malaysia for his involvement in the abduction of Taiwanese national Chang An Wei alias Evelyn Chan, at the Pom Pom Island Resort in Sabah in November 2013.
The arrest followed the apprehension of ASG and illegal drug pusher Al-sharif Ajibon alias Panda in Indanan, Sulu during operations on March 22, 2017.
Eighteen drug personalities were also captured in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte on December 10, 2016.
“I commend our soldiers for their professional and efficient intelligence and manpower support afforded to PDEA and the PNP in their anti-illegal drugs operations. Rest assured that despite our focus on our mandate to address internal and external threats to the country, we will not lose sight on the drugs scourge and will actively support PDEA in its endeavors,” Año said.