The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Negros Oriental is ready for their eventual return to the government’s war on illegal drugs.
Acting PNP provincial director Sr. Supt. Edwin Portento on Tuesday, however, said that they have yet to receive the operational guidelines from the PNP national headquarters based in Camp Crame, Quezon City.
President Rodrigo Duterte had officially signed a memorandum order for the PNP to resume its operations against illegal drugs even as the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) still remains the lead agency.
Portento welcomed the latest development, reiterating that PDEA in Negros Oriental is critically undermanned with only six personnel covering the entire province.
Previously, the PDEA was the lead and sole agency to address the illegal drugs problem but while the killings had dropped, there was a noted resurgence in the illegal narcotics trade.
Sr. Supt. Portento explained that they were coordinating with the PDEA through providing intelligence and other information on drug suspects.
But with the President’s latest order, Sr. Supt. Portento assured that “we are ready with the task (as) after all, we have the information.” (Judy Flores Partlow/PNA)
