PNP: Up to PDEA if it wants to share to Robredo confidential info on drug war

November 18, 2019

The Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Monday that it would be up to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) if it would allow Vice President Leni Robredo to have an access to government’s confidential records on its war on drugs.

“Remember, the PDEA is the head of the law enforcement cluster. Whatever the head says, I will always respect it being a member of the law enforcement cluster. So yes, I adhere to what the director general says,” Police Lieutenant General Archie Francisco Gamboa told reporters.

Gamboa said as a co-chair of Interagency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs (ICAD), Robredo could review the policy but it did not matter who were in the drug list.

“When you say a co-chairpersonship in ICAD, remember it's a collegial body and it's supposed to be policy making,” he said.

“You are supposed to review, fine. If you want to review the law enforcement campaign but would it really matter if you know who are on the list?” he added.

He then reiterated his suggestion to take the advocacy and the rehabilitation side of the campaign.

“It falls on what she said that the illegal drugs is actually a health problem so probably that can fall on advocacy and rehabilitation but law enforcement and prosecution or on the justice could be best left to those who know it, which is the PNP, PDEA, NBI (National Bureau of Investigation) for law enforcement and the Department of Justice, for justice,” said Gamboa.

PDEA chief Director General Aaron Aquino clarified he was not trying to hide to Robredo the list of alleged top drug suspects in the country.

Aquino explained the classified information would be available to Robredo during a "closed-door meeting only with the presence of personnel with security clearance."

He said not everyone might have access or copy of the list.

Robredo then dismissed speculations that she might reveal sensitive government information to foreign entities and other individuals.

On Sunday, she asserted that she would not disclose any classified information related to the government's anti-narcotics drive after Malacanang said President Rodrigo Duterte would fire her if she would do so.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo earlier said revealing the confidential information was considered as a crime and is punishable under the Article 229 or "Revelation of secrets by an officer" of the Revised Penal Code. The penalties include "perpetual special disqualification from office”.

"She may not realize it but she could be treading on dangerous grounds. It could be an overreach of the granted authority hence the reminder," Panelo has said. Ella Dionisio/DMS