Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region VI (PDEA-6) Director Wardly Getalia said he is confident his agency can carry out anti-drug operations effectively, following a memorandum recently signed by President Rodrigo Duterte transferring all anti-drug operations from the Philippine National Police (PNP) to PDEA.

In a radio interview with Bombo Radyo-Bacolod yesterday morning, Getalia said they are capable of taking on the challenge, even if the office lacks personnel, which he said numbered between 45 and 50.

He added, the agency is currently conducting trainings in order to increase the number of personnel.

The regional PDEA chief noted, there are currently no guidelines on conducting operations and said PDEA-6 would still need the assistance of other law enforcement agencies, including the PNP.

Last Wednesday, Duterte issued a memorandum ordering the PDEA to be the sole agency to conduct anti-drug operations.

The president said law enforcement agencies, as well as all ad-hoc task forces, are required to allow the PDEA to conduct anti-illegal drug operations.

Bacolod City Councilor Caesar Distrito, meanwhile, said the president’s decision is bound to fail, claiming the move was only made to “allay the fears of the public.”

He also said the PDEA is “very limited” when it comes to manpower and without the budgetary capacity of the PNP./DGB, WDJ