PDEA SETS PRIORITY TARGETS FOR 2012

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has laid down the road map to guide Luzon-based PDEA regional offices in prioritizing targets for 2012.

The priority targets were discussed during the two-day intelligence workshop for Luzon-based PDEA regional directors and their intelligence officers held on October 27-28 in Angeles City, Pampanga.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Jose S. Gutierrez, Jr. said that the two-day workshop aims to generate an updated agency list of active drug groups and personalities operating in Luzon. Existing data maintained by each regional office were evaluated to help PDEA operating units determine priority targets in their respective jurisdiction.

“Target setting provides our operatives with sound direction instead of conducting random anti-drug operations,” Gutierrez said.

PDEA regional directors and their intelligence officers from the Ilocos Region (Region 1), Cagayan Province (Region 2), CALABARZON (Region 4A), MIMAROPA (Region 4B) and the Bicol Region (Region 5) attended the two-day intelligence workshop which, Gutierrez said, will be replicated in the Visayas and Mindanao regions within the month.

During the workshop, Gutierrez also directed the Luzon-based PDEA regional directors to give priority to the implementation of case operation plan and in neutralizing high-value and high-impact targets to significantly reduce the supply and disrupt the illegal drug cycle.

“We expect to be able to have a complete and updated PDEA-list of drug groups and personalities nationwide once we have consolidated all the outputs from all the intelligence workshops conducted in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. This is in preparation for the projected intelligence workshop with counterparts in the Philippine National Police before the year ends,” Gutierrez said. Evangeline DJ Almenario, Chief, Public Information Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency