PDEA agents in extort try put on floating status

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency operatives involved in the arrest of and extortion attempt on drug suspect Mark Sy Tan have been placed on floating status, PDEA director general Jose Gutierrez Jr. said yesterday.

In a statement, Gutierrez said the agency, through its Internal Affairs Service, is conducting a parallel investigation on the matter.

“Let the ax fall where it may. We are not covering up any misdemeanor, neither protecting anyone who has committed infractions or violations of the law,” Gutierrez said.

Tan’s case was first brought up by Carlos Gadapan, who was sacked by Malacañang from his post as PDEA deputy director general for operations.

Gadapan believes he lost his job because he called Gutierrez’s attention on the alleged gambling problem of the latter’s wife, who denied the allegation. Gutierrez said Gadapan was being investigated for corruption. During a Senate hearing, Gutierrez also claimed Gadapan had leaked information to a drug suspect. 

Gadapan linked Gutierrez to the agents who allegedly extorted P8 million from Tan, a charge both Tan and Gutierrez denied.

Recently, a woman claimed the extortion did happen and the money was deposited in her account. She said the lover of agent Norman Daez, of PDEA Region 3, contacted her to arrange the deposit.

Daez is not part of the team of agents who arrested Tan, but he has been placed on floating status along with 10 others from the arresting team.