Senate questions PDEA exec's relief

MANILA,Philippines - The Senate questioned yesterday President Aquino’s order to relieve a Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) official, allegedly without due process.

Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile supported the call of Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III to conduct an inquiry into the activities of the PDEA following reports of bribery and internal squabbling among the top PDEA officials.

Sotto expressed the belief that Aquino may have been fed the wrong information about PDEA deputy director general Carlos Gadapan.

“Lahat ng appointed by President kailangan may trust and confidence siya. Ngayon talagang magkakaroon ng lost of confidence pag mali ang nakakarating sa Pangulo. Gusto lang natin pigilan na huwag magkagulo sa PDEA ngayon (All those appointed by the President has to have his trust and confidence. There will be a loss of confidence if the wrong information reaches the President. What we want is to prevent chaos at PDEA),” Sotto said in an interview prior to his privilege speech.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson, former chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), noted that PDEA director general Jose Gutierrez failed to answer certain questions asked by Sen. Franklin Drilon during the recent budget hearings. The issue about Gadapan can be raised once the Senate finance committee tackles anew the PDEA budget at the Senate.

Lacson noted that he knew Gadapan as an upright police officer who would fight for what he believes in. Gadapan opted for early retirement from the PNP in 2006 before joining the PDEA.

“If I remember it right, he used to be with the intelligence directorate,” Lacson said.

Lacson recalled that last year, the PDEA’s budget was also slashed by P100 million after senators questioned Gutierrez over another unceremonious relief of another PDEA officer who hailed from Cagayan.

Sotto said there has been talk that PDEA officials are having problems, not only within the agency but also within their family.

“Apparently this information reached the Palace and the one who was alluded to is the deputy director general so that was what happened. It is okay because that is the prerogative of the Palace,” he said.

Sotto’s speech was referred to the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.