JUSTICE Secretary Vitaliano N. Aguirre II has directed the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to join anew the government’s war against illegal drugs.
Aguirre issued the order after President Duterte decided to return the Philippine National Police (PNP) at the frontline of the anti-illegal drug operations together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
In his Department Order (DO) 78 dated December 6, Aguirre tasked the NBI to conduct investigation and case buildup for violation of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Acts of 2002.
“The NBI, through its director, lawyer Dante Gierran, is directed to submit a monthly report to the office [of] undersigned on its current activities related to implementation of this order,” Aguirre said in his order.
The order also revoked DO 670, issued on October 13 pulling the NBI out of the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign and leave the matter to the PDEA.
Apart from the PNP and NBI, also to resume active support to the PDEA are the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Bureau of Customs and Philippine Postal Corp.
Duterte signed last Tuesday a memorandum ordering the Philippine National Police (PNP) and other law-enforcement agencies to rejoin the government’s war against illegal drugs.
Duterte issued the order after receiving reports of a spike in illegal-drug operations and drug-related incidents in the country after he pulled out the PNP from the campaign.
In October Duterte issued a memorandum directing “NBI, PNP or any and all anti-illegal drugs task force to yield to the PDEA as the sole agency in the conduct of operations of all those who are involved in, or connected to illegal drugs.”
The order aims to pinpoint precise accountability, following criticisms from several local and international human-rights advocates that antidrug policemen have resorted to summary killings of drug suspects.