The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has warned the public anew against people posing as its agents.
This, after a recent anti-drug operation resulted in the death of a fake PDEA agent in Camarines Sur. He was later identified as 32-year old Noel Vasquez.
PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva said the incident happened at around 11:40 p.m. of August 2 in a buy-bust conducted against Vasquez.
Reports from the local police stated that Vasquez who claimed to be a PDEA agent was in the watch list of drug personalities and was the biggest source of illegal drugs in his area and neighboring towns.
“His modus operandi was to introduce himself as PDEA agent to intimidate his competitors/cohorts in the illegal drug trade,’’ PDEA said.
Under the PDEA National Drug Information System (NDIS), Vasquez was listed as a drug surrenderer of Barangay Liboton, Naga City, Camarines Sur.
“Falsely representing a person of authority is a serious crime punishable by law. People like Vasquez who are openly doing their illicit activities, leads to erosion of trust and confidence in PDEA. Ito ang mahirap. Mag-trabaho man kami ng mahusay, napapasama pa rin kami sa mata ng publiko (This is very difficult. Even if we do our job well people tend to put us in a bad light),’’ Villanueva said.
The PDEA chief urged the public to remain vigilant and verify from the nearest PDEA Office people posing as PDEA agents.
“Maari din po kayong magsumbong (illegal drug trade) sa pamamagitan ng ‘Isumbong Mo Kay Wilkins!’ facebook page o di kaya pwede po kayong tumawag o mag-text sa aming mga hotline numbers 0995-354-7020 at 0931-027-82-12 (You can also report through “Isumbong Mo Kay Wilkins (Report it to Wilkins)’’ facebook page or at hotline numbers 0995-354-7020 and at 0931-027-82-120,’’ he added. (Chito A. Chavez)