The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Friday warned the public against fake anti-narcotic agents.
Director general Wilkins Villanueva reacted to the recent killing of two suspects allegedly involved in kidnap-for-ransom activities in a shootout with the police in Botolan, Zambales.
“The slain suspects reportedly belonged to the same group of men and women who wore PDEA uniforms rushing to arrest a man in Ususan, Taguig, on Feb. 4, 2018. The incident was caught in closed circuit television footage,” he said.
Such incident was not the first time certain persons usurped the identity of PDEA to perpetrate illegal activities, he noted.
The unauthorized wearing of PDEA uniforms or insignia is punishable under the Revised Penal Code, Villanueva says.
He says PDEA follows the standard operating procedures in conducting legitimate anti-drug operations.
“Our operations are always coordinated with the local police and the conduct of search operations are always armed with search warrants issued by court,” he said.
“I encourage the public to be vigilant and report to PDEA any similar incidents involving suspicious individuals masquerading as PDEA agents.”
Villanueva advised the public to report immediately any unscrupulous individuals posing as PDEA agents through “Isumbong mo Kay Wilkins!”