CEBU CITY – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Visayas (PDEA-7) has a new chief following a major reshuffle of the agency’s regional directors.
Levi Ortiz was relieved and transferred to Region 2 (Cagayan Valley). He was replaced by Jigger Montallana, former regional director of the PDEA-10 (Northern Mindanao).
Leia Alcantara, PDEA-7 spokesperson, said the agency moved all regional directors.
“Actually, all directors of our regional officers were reshuffled. This is normal as part of our management operations,” Alcantara said.
Ortiz confirmed his relief in a Facebook post in which he thanked the various agencies that supported the PDEA-7 during his tenure.
“As I leave Region7, I pray that a lot more drug users will realize the destructive effect of illegal drugs and will decide to reform and rehabilitate themselves, because no matter how much the drug supply, if no one will crave for it or use it, illegal drugs will lose its market,” said Ortiz who was named PDEA-7 director in July 15, 2020.
Data provided by Alcantara showed that illegal drugs totaling P1.1 billion were seized by the PDEA-7 in Ortiz’s more than two-year stint and 665 barangays and six municipalities in Region 7 were declared drug-cleared.
With Ortiz at the helm, PDEA-7 conducted 378 anti-illegal drug operations that led to the destruction of 97 drug dens and the filing of charges against 812 personalities. Shabu and marijuana amounting to P766,610,789.56 were destroyed by PDEA-7 under Ortiz.