17 Western Visayas cops on PDEA watch list

MANILA, Philippines - At least 17 policemen in Western Visayas are allegedly acting as “protectors” of local drug groups, prompting the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to place them on its watch list.

PDEA-Region 6 director Paul Ledesma yesterday said the policemen, mostly with the rank of Police Officer 1, 2 and 3, allegedly have links with these drug groups.

“Because of persistent reports, we have placed them on our watch list, which is subject to verification,” Ledesma said.

He said local anti-drug units have aired concerns that their operations have not been successful, as some rank-and-file policemen could have tipped off these drug groups.

“They are saying there were always leaks that’s why they were having difficulty in their operations,” he said.

Because of this, Ledesma and regional police director, Chief Superintendent Cipriano Querol, have agreed to modify procedures in anti-narcotics operations to prevent these purported leaks.