THE Office of the President (OP) has cited the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for its 100 percent resolution rate of public complaints and grievances on acts of red tape forwarded thru the (Malacañan) Palace’s 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Center.

In a letter to PDEA chair, Director General Moro Virgilio M. Lazo, the head of the 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Center, Director Bernadette Casinabe acknowledged the efforts of the anti-drug agency in ensuring that all public concerns referred were promptly acted upon.

From January 1 to November 30 this year, the Malacañang office referred 24 citizens’ concerns to the PDEA, of which all were addressed effectively and efficiently within the 72-hour prescribed period.

Besides the commendation, the low turnout in complaints is a “good yardstick” to gauge the integrity and credibility of PDEA as seen by the public eye, officials said.

According to PDEA Spokesperson Director Derric Arnold C. Carreon, the agency continues to strive for “excellence and competence” as the frontline in the national anti-drug campaign, being the lead agency in the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

PDEA’s 100% complaint compliance rate started during the time of its former Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva and continued until the assumption of Lazo.

The 8888 Citizens’ Complaint Center serves as a reporting mechanism where the general public can air their concerns on alleged corrupt practices against government agencies, officials, and employees, as defined under RA 9485, otherwise known as “The Anti-Red Tape Act (ARTA) of 2007, as amended by RA No. 11032 or “An Act Promoting Ease of Doing Business and Efficient Delivery of Government Services.”

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon