Puno ‘backs’ Avenido as head of drug agency

Barely a week after his supposed "recruitment" into the Arroyo administration, former Interior and Local Government Secretary Ronaldo Puno created quite a stir at Malacañang when he allegedly pushed for the appointment of a retired police general to head the newly created Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Puno’s alleged endorsement of retired Lt. Gen. Anselmo Avenido, sources said, is causing demoralization in the ranks of the National Capital Regional Police Office.

Avenido served as Puno’s undersecretary in the Department of the Interior and Local Government during the term of former President Joseph Es—trada.

Aside from Avenido, the other candidates for the top PDEA post are Directors Efren Fernandez of the PNP Narcotics Group, and Miguel Coronel, of the National Drug Enforcement Prevention and Coordination Center.

Of the three, Fernandez is considered a shoo-in for the PDEA post because of the successful raids on shabu laboratories in Pasig City, Lipa City and San Juan. — Non Alquitran