DRUG-PROTECTING COPS IN TAGUIG, NOT PDEA MEN

CAMP CRAME, Quezon City - The 15 policemen who were tagged as
'protectors' of illeal drug syndicates in Taguig are not members of
the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Senior Supt. Bernardo
F. Bondoc, PDEA information chief and spokesman, said.

Bondoc also said that a clear case of 'misinformation' or
'disinformation' must have been pipelined to Taguig Mayor Sigfrido
Tinga, who, in his recommendation to Southern Police District Office
(SPDO) director Chief Supt. Jose Gutierrez said that the 15 cops are
members of the PDEA, and whose relief from Taguig Police Station he
sought for allegedly protecting illegal drug syndicates in his town.

Tinga recommended to Gutierrez the relief transfer to another area of
the followign police officers: PO3 Carlos Cachaperon, PO3 Cirilo C.
Zamora, PO2 Egardo A. Gabuna, PO2 Geronimo F. Clemente, and PO2
Edgardo A. Bautista, reportedly assigned to PDEA Dragon Group; SPO2
Rodolfo L. Marcelo, SPO2 Pablo J. Agawin Jr., PO2 Ernesto S. Sanchez,
PO1 Alfonso H. del Rosario, PO1 Roselie O. Reyel, SPO3 Ferdinand P.
Fallaria, SPO4 Marino Facunta, PO2 Roberto Cahilig, and PO3 Fernando
Gomboo assigned to the Group Intelligence Division of Taguig Police
Station.

"All these 15 cops are assigned at the SPDO, and are not connected ith
PDEA," Bondoc said, stressing that "PDEA does not and will never
tolerate activities - illegal, unethical, immoral of bad eggs in the
organization."

"Usec. Anselmo S. Avenido Jr., our PDEA director general, has already
informed and ordered proper coordination with Chief Supt. Guti errez
to strictly look into the shameful report linking his men to the
condemnable illegal drug trade, and we hope for results the earliest
possible time," said Bondoc.

The Taguig Police Station is under the jurisdiction of the National
Capital Regional Police Ofice (NCRPO).

Earlier, reports have it that Taguig police were "in the take of the
illegal drug syndicates operating in the town, where some local
government officials, including several barangays and the municipal
government were also behind the protection activities for illeal drug
traffickers.

The government is reported firm to crush down the syndicates where
many - rich or otherwise - have been victimized.

A composite anti-drug task force, composed of the PDEA, AFP, PNP and
NBI is reported set to pound on the well-entrenched pushers and their
protectors in Taguig - a town in the metropolis reported quite
notorious and known for illegal-drug trafficking, and where
"untouchables" are linked.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo led the reintensification of the
nationwide anti-illegal drug campaign in mid June this year tasking
PDEA as the lead agency in the anti-illegal drugs drive.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose D. Lina Jr. said he will
announce the names of protectors fo syndicates and their brains, who
include politicians, PNP and AFP officers, in due time, the moment
evidences for against them shall have been completed.

The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A. 9165) which
created PDEA, makes it now easier to arrest violators who are faced
with heavier punishments.