7 PDEA-Ilocos Norte operatives back in service after probe found critics wrong

BAGUIO CITY — Seven anti-narcotics agents of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, relieved and probed after a sting operation against a charcoal-maker in Solsona town in Ilocos Norte on Saturday last week, were reinstated. 

After finding out there was no irregularity or wrongdoing as earlier imputed by critics, PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon said that the seven agents were absolved by an internal probe and are back in service.

PDEA Director General Moro Lazo earlier ordered PDEA Region 1 Regional Director Joel Plaza to launch a thorough investigation and the agents’ relief after complaints swamped them that evidence against Jason Andres Dumlao, 32, including the gram of shabu and P9,000 buy-bust money were planted. 

After lunch last Saturday, PDEA Ilocos Norte agents aided by five policemen busted Dumlao while he was at his workplace as a charcoal maker at barangay Nalasin, Solsona town.

A supposed viral video showed Dumlao on the ground while being read his Miranda Rights while a PDEA agent beside seemed to have taken out from his own pocket what appeared to be a small plastic sachet.

According to the “Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002” (RA 9165), planting of evidence is a heinous offense and is punishable with life imprisonment.

There was no planting of evidence, Carreon said, citing the PDEA-Region 1 internal probe results.  If at all, Dumlao’s camp suspect otherwise, they can contest it in court,  the PDEA spokesman challenged.

Dumlao, brought to the Ilocos Norte provincial jail, has already been indicted of drug sale by Ilocos Norte Provincial Prosecutor’s Office through Assistant Provincial Prosecutor and Officer-in-charge Marichu Christine Pablo.

The Facebook page of PDEA Region 1 earlier named Dumlao as the “top 3 regional target personality” in the entire Ilocos Region, despite certifications saying that he has no prior criminal record and has never been arrested for any drug offense. 

“We fully understand the situation of (Dumlao),” whose child is at the ICU of the Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center in Batac City, also in Ilocos Norte, said PDEA Dir. Gen. Lazo.

“But as they say in law, law applies to all, otherwise none at