Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA, , ; Filipino: ''Ahensiya ng Pilipinas sa Pagpapatupad ng Batas Laban sa Bawal na Gamot'') is the lead anti-drug law enforcement agency, responsible for preventing, investigating and combating any dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals within the Philippines. The agency is tasked with the enforcement of the penal and regulatory provisions of Republic Act No. 9165 (R.A. 9165), otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

PDEA is the implementing arm of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB). The DDB is the policy-making and strategy-formulating body in the planning and formulation of policies and programs on drug prevention and control. PDEA and DDB are both under the supervision of the Office of the President of the Philippines.

History and mandate

For thirty years, the Republic Act No. 6425, or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972, had been the backbone of the drug law enforcement system in the Philippines. Despite the efforts of various law enforcement agencies mandated to implement the law, the drug problem alarmingly escalated with orbiting Police Officers collecting drug money. The high profitability of the illegal drug trade, compounded by the then existing laws that imposed relatively light penalties to offenders, greatly contributed to the gravity of the problem.

Republic Act No. 9165

Recognizing the need to further strengthen existing laws governing Philippine drug law enforcement system, the then Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed the Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, on June 7, 2002, and it took effect on July 4, 2002. The R.A. 9165 defines more concrete courses of action for the national anti-drug campaign and imposes heavier penalties to offenders.

The enactment of R.A. 9165 reorganized the Philippine drug law enforcement system. While the Dangerous Drugs Board remains as the policy-making and strategy-formulating body in planning and formulation of policies and program on drug control and prevention, it created the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency under the Office of the President.

Creation of task forces

The R.A. 9165 abolished the National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center, which was created under Executive Order No. 61, and the Narcotics Group of Philippine National Police (PNP-NG), Narcotics Division of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI-ND), and the Customs Narcotics Interdiction Unit of the Bureau of Customs (BOC-CNIU).

Under Executive Order No.206 dated May 15, 2003, these law enforcement agencies have organized the following anti-illegal drugs task force to support the PDEA:
*Philippine National Police – Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force (PNP-AIDSOTF);
*National Bureau of Investigation – Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force (NBI-AIDTF);
*Bureau of Customs – Customs Task Group/Force in Dangerous Drugs and Controlled Chemicals (BOC-CTGFDDCC).

Organization

National Office

PDEA is headed by a Director General (DG) with the Cabinet rank of Undersecretary, who is responsible for the general administration and management of the agency. The Director General is assisted by two Deputies Director General with the rank of Assistant Secretary: one for Administration (DDGA) and the other one for Operations (DDGO).

The office of the Director General is also supported by the Secretary for Directorial Staff, Chief of Public Information Office (PIO), Chief of Information Technology Systems Management Office (ITSMO) and Chief of Chemical Audit and Management Unit (CAMU).

The Director General of the PDEA shall be responsible for the necessary changes in the organizational set-up which shall be submitted to the DDB for approval.

Command Group

* Office of the Director-General
** Chief of Staff
* Office of the Deputy Director-General for Administration
* Office of the Deputy Director-General for Operations

Administrative Cluster

* Human Resource Management Service (HRMS)
* Financial Management Service (FMS)
* Logistics and Administrative Management Service (LAMS)
* Internal Affairs Service (IAS)
* PDEA Academy

Operational Cluster

* Intelligence and Investigation Service (IIS)
* Plans and Operations Service (POS)
* Legal and Prosecution Service (LPS)
* Compliance Service (CS)
* International Cooperation and Foreign Affairs Service (ICFAS)
* Preventive Education and Community Involvement Service (PECIS)
* Special Enforcement Service (SES)
* Laboratory Service (LS)
* Public Information Office (PIO)
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Regional Offices

The PDEA have established 17 Regional Offices headed by Directors in the different regions of the country which is responsible for the implementation of RA 9165 and the policies, programs, and projects of the agency in different regions.

* Regional Office I – Camp Diego Silang, Carlatan, San Fernando City, La Union
* Regional Office II – Camp Adduru, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan
* Regional Office III – Diosdado Macapagal Government Center, Brgy. Maimpis, City of San Fernando, Pampanga
* Regional Office IVA – Camp Vicente Lim, Calamba City, Laguna
* Regional Office MIMAROPA – Brgy. Sta. Isabel Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro
* Regional Office V – Camp General Simeon Ola, Legazpi City, Albay