The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) warned the public against unscrupulous individuals who introduce themselves as PDEA agents involved in criminal activities.
PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino reiterated the warning in light of the recent arrest of a suspect posing as a PDEA agent and his female companion during a shootout in Parañaque City last February 24.
Investigation disclosed that Jhay-R Repana, 31, alleged PDEA agent, a resident of Masville Compound, Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City; and Rosemimi Facal, 30, of Lizardo Compound, Bayanan, Taguig City, were involved in a shooting incident along Dr. A. Santos Avenue, Gate 2 of Loyola Memorial Park, Barangay BF Homes, Parañaque City.
According to a witness, the pair, who was onboard a Mitsubishi Lancer with plate number XHU-835, figured in a shootout with another vehicle that wounded Repana’s left leg.
During a follow-up operation, elements of Parañaque City Police Station discovered Repana and Facal’s vehicle parked near the Sta. Rosa Hospital, Laguna that led to their arrest.
When inspected by the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) Team of Police Regional Office 4A (PRO-4A), the vehicle yielded one caliber 38 revolver with pieces of ammunition, and one plastic sachet containing suspected methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, one improvised tooter and lighter.
Repana identified himself as a PDEA operative and showed his identification card to the arresting authorities.
Repana and Facal will be facing charges for violation of Section 11 (Possession of Dangerous Drugs) and Section 12 (Possession of Drug Paraphernalia), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. Additional charges for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, usurpation of authority, alarm and scandal, will also be filed in court against them.
“It comes as no surprise that there are people who misrepresent themselves as PDEA agents or as members of other law enforcement units to perform their illegal activities,” Aquino said in a statement.
“Our agents have undergone rigorous training for months, imbibing in them the core values of the PDEA organization. We will not tolerate unscrupulous people who pretend to be our agents and tarnish the Agency’s integrity just like that,” he added.
Last Feb. 4, persons wearing PDEA uniforms while tagging along alleged drug personalities and rode aboard two vehicles was captured on closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras in Barangay Ususan, Taguig City.
However, the same group managed to elude arrest after engaging the authorities in hot pursuit in the same barangay two weeks later.
“PDEA is continuously intensifying its internal cleansing program as part of its commitment to weed out erring agents and personnel involved in the illegal drug trade and other anomalous activities,” Aquino added.
The PDEA urges the public to immediately report individuals introducing themselves as PDEA Agents while committing a criminal act.
To send reports to PDEA 24/7 Text Hotlines, text the following hotline numbers:
Text: Name of Perpetrator/Poser and Complete Information
Send to: For SMART Subscribers — 0999-888 PDEA (7332); for Sun Subscribers — 0925-573 PDEA (7332); for Globe Subscribers — 0927-915-0616. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
