PDEA chief willing to step down

The head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), under fire for the recent escape of a suspected Chinese drug lord, expressed willingness yesterday to resign from his post if the government and those under him no longer supports him.

PDEA Director General Anselmo Avenido issued the statement even as he asked the Department of Budget and Management to release the agency’s P32-million allocation.

Henry Tan, arrested for possession of some 350 kilos of shabu in Zambales last year, was able to escape from the PDEA detention cell at Camp Crame last week.

Avenido pointed out that the anti-drug drive is not an easy task.

"In the anti-drug business, you never know who your allies or enemies are. I can only promise to do my job well. But if I see that there is no more support from the government and my own men, then I am willing to resign."

He noted that there is an estimated 11 transnational drug syndicates and 215 local drug syndicates operating in the Philippines.

Avenido said PDEA is way behind its US counterpart, the US Drug Enforcement Agency, which has a huge budget and effective support from the government.

"Unlike the USDEA, we lack the necessary equipment. Also, PDEA is not only responsible for big-time drug syndicates but the neutralization of smaller ones," he said.

Avenido noted that so far, only P4 million of the P32-million budget for PDEA has been released by the DBM.

The other day, Senator Noli de Castro called for an inquiry into the lifestyle of PDEA officials and agents as the Senate began its hearings on Tan’s escape.

The senator said that based on the testimonies, he has reason to believe there was connivance between PDEA officials and Tan.

A police inspector, assigned as officer of the day during the escape, admitted that there was no lock on the door of the detention center. – Jose Rodel Clapano, Efren Danao