PNP chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil
Marbil cites PNP-DEG as it marks 7th anniversary
PHILIPPINE National Police chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil on Monday cited the PNP Drug Enforcement Group for playing a huge role in the government’s campaign against illegal narcotics and trafficking specifically in having a good record when it comes to convicting arrested targets.
The PDEG headed by Brigadier Gen. Eleazar P. Matta marked its 7th founding anniversary still in the forefront of the police force’s battle against illegal drugs specifically its all-out effort to go after big-time syndicates involved in the smuggling and distribution of shabu and other prohibited substance in the country.
At present, it has an average conviction rate of 76.92 percent while continuing to support the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the crackdown against illegal drug trafficking and abuse.
Under the Marcos Jr. administration, the unit continued to be vigilant and proactive in its anti-drug strategies and scored a number of high-impact operations which targeted ‘high-value individuals’ across the country since Gen. Marbil took over as the 30th PNP chief.
Records showed that from May 2023 to date, PDEG operatives carried out 597 anti-drug tasks consisting of 251 buy-bust operations and served 36 search warrants for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and 252 warrants of arrest for violation of RA 9165.
During the period, the unit arrested 719 targets and confiscated nearly P3.748 billion worth of shabu and other prohibited drugs.
The PDEG also strengthened its collaboration with the Anti-Money Laundering Council to recover ill-gotten wealth by identified drug personalities.
To date, a total of 251 PDEG personnel have been trained and later deputized as AMLC Financial Investigators responsible in conducting financial investigations and filing applications for bank inquiries, petitions for freeze orders, civil and criminal forfeitures, and criminal complaints related to money laundering.
During its 7th founding anniversary, outstanding PDEG uniformed and non-uniformed personnel were awarded for their contribution to the unit’s successful effort to fight illegal drugs.
The awardees for Supply Reduction include Lieutenant Colonel Richard D. Palay, Captain Arnel B. Daquioag, Police Master Sergeant Roland C. Bongcawel and Corporal Blester E. Olivas.
Awarded for their successful efforts in Demand Reduction were Lt. Col. Joseph M. Gonzales, Cpt. Rommel J. Laluces, Senior MSgt. Maria Lindsay V. Hermida and Cpl. Sandra Lou B. De Castro.
On the other hand, Col. Jose Roy M. Torrechilla, the chief of the PDEG Special Operations Unit 6 and Police Executive MSgt. Domingo B. Attaban of the Administrative and Resource Management Division were awarded for their administrative accomplishments.
Non-Uniformed Personnel Laarne C. Rivera, Ana Mae D. Alzankawi and Jocelyn G. Bernardo were also awarded for their outstanding work.
The Unit Awardees were the PDEG SOU 6, SOU 2, SOU 8 and SOU 5.
