THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has relieved its regional head in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon”•along with 61 other people”•for “operational irregularities.”
Director General Aaron Aquino said he had ordered the relief of Region 4-A Director Archie Grande plus 61 agents and administrative and technical personnel.
“They were discharged after intelligence reports linked them to a series of unlawful arrests and extortion activities in Batangas and Cavite,” Aquino said.
He said Grande and the 61 others had also been involved in the unlawful issuance of the agency’s regional identification cards to confidential assets or informants.
Meanwhile, Aquino welcomed the Interior department’s decision to file administrative charges against village officials who will fail to activate their anti-drug-abuse councils.
He said this was response to the impending issuance of a DILG memorandum ordering village officials to establish functional barangay anti-drug-abuse councils in their areas of jurisdiction within 30 days”•or else face charges of dereliction of duty.