AMID the administration’s war on illegal drugs, President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed retired Gen. Dionisio Santiago chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board, Malacañang said on Sunday.
Santiago served as Director-General of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, said Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella.
“His expertise and advocacy is fighting illegal drugs, which became his platform when he ran in the last elections,” Abella said.”©”©
“General Santiago’s return to the national government with his appointment to the DDB will greatly contribute to the President’s vision of a drug-free Philippines,” said Abella.
Santiago, who had also served as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, replaced Benjamin Reyes, who was removed from the position last May for presenting numbers that contradicted the government’s statistics on illegal drug users.
Based on his profile posted on the website of the Philippine Constitution Association, Santiago served as PDEA chief from 2006 to 2010.
Santiago also served as Bureau of Corrections director from 2003 to 2004, Army commanding general from March to November 2002, Central Command Visayas commanding general from July 2001 to March 2002, and commanding general of the Special Operations Command from 1999 to 2001.