Coordination Between PDEA, Police on Anti-Drug Ops Pushed to Avoid Misencounter

A near missed encounter Friday afternoon between agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 and the Mobile Patrol Group (MPG) during an anti-drug operation here showed the need for an inter-agency coordination, an official said.

Senior Supt. Joel Doria, Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) director, said that MPG elements were responding to a call from a concerned citizen about an armed person.

The police team went to Tres de abril Stree in Labangon at around 2 p.m. Friday and confronted the man who turned out to be a PDEA-7 agent.

Doria said the PDEA-7 agent, who was carrying a high-powered firearm, was in the area along with other agents to conduct an anti-illegal drug operation.

Doria said the PDEA-7 agents did not coordinate with the police before conducting the operation.

He said the PDEA should have coordinated with the police as a matter of protocol and to avoid a misencounter.

”If a misencounter transpired, there’s really no one to be blamed but them,” he said.

Doria said the CCPO always coordinate with the PDEA-7 when they conduct an anti-drug operation. (PNA)LAP/BS/EB/RSM