PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency-Negros Island Region (PDEA-NIR) Director Julius Navales was relieved from his post effective January 17, after five PDEA agents were linked to the illegal drug operations in Negros Occidental.
PDEA Director General Isidro Lapeña witnessed the turn-over of office of Navales to lawyer Roselyn Borja, who came from the PDEA Internal Affairs Services (IAS), in rites held at the regional office in Bacolod City Wednesday.
Joining Borja was Wardley Getalla, who was assigned as PDEA-18’s deputy chief.
Lapeña said the transfer of Navales to the national headquarters is part of the procedural measures.
The region’s top drug suspect Ricky Serenio claimed in his sworn statement that five PDEA agents received protection money from suspected drug lord Victoria “Berya” Tolentino.
“It doesn't mean that he (Navales) is liable for the lapses of his agents, he just needs to undergo an investigation as part of the process,” Lapeña said.
Lapeña said Navales did a very good job in the region’s anti-drug campaign.
The five agents mentioned in Serenio’s affidavit were already relieved and placed under the holding group unit of the national headquarters.
They will be given due process but will be dismissed from the service if proven guilty of the accusations against them, Lapeña said, adding that PDEA has zero tolerance to any misdemeanor among its agents.
For his part, Navales said he has accepted the decision of the higher office to transfer him.
“It’s all part of the process but I am looking forward to return,” he added.
During his six-month stint, Navales said they were able to arrest 28 percent of the target drug personalities in the region.
Borja said she will put emphasis on the cleansing of the ranks of the agency.
“We want to clear the name of PDEA from any wrong doing,” she added.
