Duterte orders return of PNP in drug war
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed a memorandum order commanding the return of Philippine National Police (PNP) to return in the controversial illegal war on drugs under the lead of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
President Rodrigo Duterte allows the Philippine National Police to again implement his controversial drug war.Photo from PPD and Rappler.
According to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, announced on Tuesday, Duterte signed memorandum, “the first is directing the PNP to resume providing active support to the PDEA in the conduct of Illegal drugs operation,” Roque said.
He pointed out that PDEA remains the lead agency in the illegal war on drugs.
“This supersedes the earlier memorandum that designated the PDEA as the sole agency that will deal with the anti-illegal drug operations,” Roque added.
The memorandum order directs to the PNP to resume the active support in the illegal war on drugs as Roque emphasized that PNP will again participate in the illegal drug operations.
The return of PNP is less than two months after Duterte appointed PDEA, as “sole agency” in charge of illegal war on drugs in the memorandum dated October 10. PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said in a statement on Tuesday, that PDEA welcomes the decision of the president.
“It has been the desire of PDEA that PNP will return in the fight against illegal drugs,” Aquino said. Aquino admitted that PDEA need another law enforcement agency to participate in the campaign.
He named PDEA as “undermanned”, “under-budget” and “under-equipped.” Duterte assigned PDEA to be the sole agency in the illegal drug operations after the controversial and rise of killings of the police during the drug operations.
