PDEA vows to neutralize known drug lord
Just like Al Capone, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is hoping to pin down Iloilo City's publicly known drug lord for anti-money laundering violations and not for possession of methampetamine hydrochloride or shabu. The drug lord has amassed million of properties, a PDEA official said.
PDEA Director General Senior Undersecretary Dionisio R. Santiago yesterday confirmed the agency is closing in on one suspected drug lord for money laundering. The agency will hit the alleged drug lord based on their "bank accounts." The cellular phones is also another evidence being considered by the operating unit.
Santiago was in the city yesterday where he attended the City Peace and Order Council (CPO) meeting. The agency is closely working with the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) in cases of money laundering involving drug lords.
The list of names in the mobile phones and even their text messages might be of material to the agency in running against those involved in the illegal drugs trade. In one drug operation here, the cellular phone of the drug suspect was recovered. However, the names of persons as well as its contents were allegedly deleted by one of the arresting officers.
In yesterday's press conference, Santiago refused to name the alleged drug lord. "It is already a common knowledge here in Iloilo City and we are not in liberty to divulge the name," he said.
The so-called "lords" run their business wisely and intelligently. Drug lords do not possess the shabu or material evidence that would send them to jail. The common practice of the "lords" is let the common drug pushers carry and handle evidences. It is their modus, Santiago added.
The agency changed their strategies in running after the drug lords by arming themselves with the provisions provided by Republic Act 9160 or the Anti-Money Laundering Act aside from anti-illegal drug law. It is something to be considered when a person is getting more profit from his business, said Santiago.
The money laundering offense is a crime whereby the proceeds of an unlawful activity are transacted. Making it appear to have originated from legitimate sources.