17 Magdalo soldiers join PDEA today

Seventeen Magdalo soldiers, who were dismissed from the service for their involvement in the Oakwood mutiny, are set to join the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) today.

The 17 officers will take their oath of office at the PDEA headquarters in Quezon City during a simple ceremony to be officiated by PDEA Director Dionisio Santiago.

Santiago earlier said the soldiers underwent training at the PDEA Academy in Tagaytay City. They were among the 53 men who pleaded guilty to and were subsequently convicted in April 2007 of violating the Articles of War. President Arroyo granted the soldiers executive clemency.

The PDEA chief said the idealism of the former soldiers will be put to good use against the multibillion-dollar illegal drugs trade, which is considered the biggest threat to national stability and security.

The PDEA lacks manpower after the Philippine National Police (PNP) recalled all 524 policemen detailed at the anti-drug agency to boost the police effort against street crimes. This left the PDEA with only 55 agents, all recent graduates of the PDEA Academy, and it needs a total of 1,900 to be fully functional.

The PNP hoped the PDEA will be able to establish its own operating units as provided by Republic Act 9165, the law that created the agency in 2002.