Former Iloilo official revealed why drug lords enjoyed protection during the Aquino administration

By: Manuel Mejorada

Not too many people know this, but three or four years ago, the Aquino administration started to decapitate the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) by slashing its operating budget.

In other words, the PDEA fought with one hand tied behind its back, not even having enough fuel budget to conduct surveillance activities and raids. Its intelligence budget was so minuscule that it couldn’t even offer cigarettes to informants.

This was the reason the PDEA wasn’t able to fight the drug war on superior terms. It was literally hogtied by the very government that was supposed to direct the war against drugs.

To make matters worse, drug lords enjoyed protection from powerful politicians, many of whom have already been named by President Duterte.

The late Melvin “Dragon” Odicta of Iloilo City enjoyed unhampered operations because no less than the Big Man tacitly tolerated his business.

It was narco-politics at its worst. The drug groups were protected by the politicians. The politicians, in turn, enjoyed the armed muscle of the drug lords to silence their critics.

I am praying this Big Man will soon be exposed by President Duterte. Jed Patrick Mabilog was just a small player in the scheme of things.