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MANILA – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) ordered an investigation into the “bogus” buy-out and raid operation in Dumaguete City that implicated its agents, saying the agency has already “pulled” them.
This, after a Dumaguete court dismissed drug cases against five defendants and required the five PDEA agents involved to explain why they should not be charged with indirect contempt of court for lying about the true nature of the operation.
“[N]ag-utos na po si the general director Wilkins Villanueva for the Intelligence and Investigation Service of the PDEA and the Internal Affairs Service to carry out parallel investigations to determine the responsibility of the agents involved in this case, “he told ABS on Wednesday- CBN News PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon.
PDEA agents claimed that the five suspects were arrested at the home of one of the suspects in the city of Dumaguete on June 28 of this year and surprised them in the act of selling a small bag of shabu and holding a session. of drugs.
But CCTV footage presented by the defendants to the court showed that they were, in fact, picked up from two different locations and forced to board a blue vehicle dating back to the PDEA.
They were later taken to the home of one of the suspects, where they were allegedly detained.
Section 34 of the Negros Oriental Regional Court of First Instance has initiated contempt proceedings against agents Nelson Muchuelas, May Ann Carmelo, Jose Anthony Juanites, Cheryl Mae Villaver and Realyn Pinpin, requiring them to explain and appear at a hearing on November 13 with a barangay official and a media representative. who would act as witnesses.
“PDEA will never tolerate any illegal acts by our staff. We will leave it up to the court, while our staff will also have the right to be heard, ”Villanueva told ABS-CBN News.
Villanueva said that he has “withdrawn” the 5 agents, which means that they will be located in the regional administrative waiting area while they are investigated.
Although the agents were not suspended, the head of the PDEA explained that they will not be allowed to participate in any operation.
‘EXCEPTIONAL CASES’
Carreón said that what happened in Dumaguete is not the norm.
“These are exceptional cases. These are not the usual events on the ground. We can assure you that all PDEA operations are closely monitored and are subject to strict requirements before each operation, particularly the backlog of cases and in the case of the buy and sell operation, ”he said.
Conducting test, detection and surveillance purchase operations were just a few of the steps it said it took to make sure the correct suspects would be arrested.
He added that all drug operations were planned and supported by proper documentation.
“Safeguards have been put in place. Regarding any planned anti-drug operation. It can be properly documented and tracked through the documents issued or executed before any operation is carried out, ”he said.
“I suppose it is about supervising any operation of the officials concerned in the field, whether they are provincial officials or regional directors, as the case may be,” he added.
ABS-CBN News reached out to the attorneys for the 5 acquitted drug suspects to find out if they intend to press charges against the police officers, but they declined to comment on the matter.
PDEA, crime, fake purchase, Philippine news, Dumaguete court, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, PDEA agents, fake purchase
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