© Noel Celis/AFP Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Ronald dela Rosa attends the deliberations to extend Martial Law in Mindanao at the session hall of the House of Representatives in Manila on December 13, 2017.
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Ronald "Bato" Dela Rosa on Monday lauded the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for relieving agents and personnel allegedly involved in operational irregularities.
"Kung ang PNP merong internal cleansing program, dapat ang PDEA meron din dahil hindi naman lahat ng tao nila don mga santo, meron ding mga taong riyan magkakamali rin kaya tama yung ginagawa [nila]," Dela Rosa said.
"The action of General Aaron Aquino is laudable. I support him in that action na dapat talaga ganun [ka-]swift and decisive para iki-cleanse ang rank. I support him, that's a very good move," he added.
PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino earlier said that PDEA-Calabarzon regional director Archie Grande along with his 61 agents and administrative and technical personnel have been removed from their posts after intelligence reports linked them to a "series of unlawful arrests and extortion activities in the provinces of Batangas and Cavite."
Aquino said that those who were relieved were also involved in the "unlawful issuance" of PDEA regionalized identification cards to confidential assets or informants.
He added that PDEA does not issue IDs to non-organic personnel, including assets and confidential informants as they only authorize the issuance of an "Agent's Agreement" which is a project-based contract for those who will perform intelligence works against high-value target drug personalities. —NB, GMA News