AFP to provide intel, personnel in Duterte's war on drugs

From GMA News (Mar 2): AFP to provide intel, personnel in Duterte's war on drugs

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will be supporting the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in its operations by sharing intelligence information and deploying personnel to areas where terror groups are prevalent and the anti-narcotics agency has a lean force.

At a media forum on Wednesday, AFP spokesperson Brigadier General Restituto Padilla stressed that the AFP will only play a supporting role to PDEA, citing the memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed by the two agencies on Tuesday, as part of the war on drugs that is the centerpiece of the Duterte administration.

The MOA was signed jointly by PDEA Director General Isidro Lapeña and AFP chief of staff General Eduardo Año.

"Sila (PDEA) ang magle-lead ng operation. Sila ang magsesecure ng arrest warrant at search warrant. Tapos pag mag-operate sila if kailangan nila ng pwersa, hihingi 'yan sa amin. Kung ano ang available na pwede maibigay ibibigay namin," Padilla said.

Some 500 military personnel from the AFP Joint Counterintelligence Task Force (JCTF) NOAH are on standby for the anti-drug campaign.

Under the MOA, a copy of which was obtained by GMA News Online, the AFP and PDEA must synchronize efforts in establishing a national-level intelligence fusion center that will conduct intelligence and counter-intelligence build-up leading to the eventual arrest and conviction of big-time drug lords as well as suppression of sources of supply of dangerous drugs and controlled precursors and essential chemicals (CPECs).

Counter-intelligence build-up and investigation against personalities in government and so-called "influential groups" shall be conducted by PDEA and the JCTF NOAH.

"The AFP shall provide the necessary forces and assets, as appropriate for each operation, provided it should not be in conflict with current operations and contrary to the AFP’s constitutional mandate," the agreement stated.

Both the AFP and PDEA also agreed to conduct community relations geared towards clearing drug-affected barangays, exchange of trainings on drug enforcement and intelligence courses, and preventive education and community involvement programs.

The PDEA is required to extend appropriate assistance to the AFP during the conduct of anti-drug advocacy activities within AFP camps and facilities.

The AFP, on the other hand, shall extend appropriate assistance to the PDEA by providing its personnel access to medical and emergency services, in cases of casualties resulting from anti-drug operations.

The military must also include the topic on anti-drug campaign in their lectures in the school, community and other related activities.

Periodic meetings

Representatives from PDEA and AFP are expected to hold meetings periodically "for the purpose of cooperation, coordination, and integration," the MOA said.

They should also submit reports on their activities to President Rodrigo Duterte and other parties concerned.

Both AFP and PDEA acknowledged that illegal drugs is a national security threat "considering its impact on the country’s political, social, economic, and governance fabric, the involvement of foreign state and non-state actors, terrorist groups, its debilitating effect on millions of Filipino drug-abusers, and, the corruption of the country’s national and local government organizations."

Duterte has indicated that policemen will soon be utilized in the government's anti-drug campaign following reports that drug dealers are back on the streets after the President barred the Philippine National Police from participating.

The President suspended the PNP's involvement in the drug war after the death of South Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo, who was abducted from his Angeles City home and killed inside in Camp Crame by anti-drug operatives in October last year.

The National Bureau of Investigation, whose members were also implicated in the crime, was also prohibited by the President from undertaking anti-drugs operations.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/601558/news/nation/afp-to-provide-intel-personnel-in-duterte-s-war-on-drugs