At the Talk Widus forum of the Pampanga Press Club forum at Widus Hotel and Casino here recently, PDEA regional director Joseph Ladip described his region as “very challenging” because of its proximity to Metro Manila.
Ladip said PDEA is confi rming reports of five high value targets in Central Luzon, but declined to give details.
He explained, however, that such targets could include politicians.
“But aside from shabu, we are also now on alert against emerging drugs such as liquid ecstasy which is more fatal. It seems popular among young people. It’s the substance that killed young people who attended a concert in Manila last year,” he noted.
Ladip said that at present, PDEA is busy mapping out strategies in the fight against illegal drugs in coordination with the Philippine National Police.
It was only recently that the PDEA took over anti-illegal drugs operations from the police nationwide.
But Ladip admitted that his agency is limited by manpower, funds, and other resources.
He said that PDEA in Central Luzon has only 80 personnel and lacks cash for “buy-bust” operations. Ladip was with the party of PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino who attended a training course on law enforcement on Oct. 14-28 in Fuzhou City, Province of Fujian in China.
He said that his Chinese counterparts said the Philippines has remained attractive to foreign drug traders for its profitability and its being an archipelago which provides for easier movement against law enforcers.
