PNP DEG chief admits selecting personnel was a big challenge

Philippine National Police Drug Enforcement Group Senior Supt. Graciano Mijares on Friday admitted that the selection of personnel for the newly-formed unit was one of the challenges they are facing.

“Iyong challenges when I was designated, we started from ground zero. Talagang may apprehension din tayo kasi I will be the one who will organize this office, organization niya. Unang-una(ng challenge) ‘yung selection ng personnel,” Mijares said in a press conference.

He said that to date they only have 54 of the 477 personnel they are authorized to have.

Mijares said 60 more have expressed intention to join the group and are still undergoing the vetting process.

PDEG Sr Supt. Mijares said they have recruited 54 of the 477 personnel they are required to have @gmanewsbreaking pic.twitter.com/wtFiiLOaxv

— amitalegaspi (@amitalegaspi) March 10, 2017

“At present we have 54 personnel who were already issued their assignment orders to compose the initial members of the PNP DEG after being subject to proper vetting and selection process. Tuluy-tuloy po ito,” he said.

Most of the 54 personnel came from the defunct Anti-Illegal Drug Group but they will serve in the administrative division.

Mijares added they have requested the Directorate for Intelligence to conduct a complete background investigation on them, including him.

Asked when they expect to fill all the vacancies, Mijares said they do not have a timeline and they do not want to be in a hurry.

“We cannot be in a hurry dahil baka makapili na naman tayo ng personnel na hindi dapat or not deserving to be there. The timeline—the soonest we can do it but hindi ako makapagbigay ng definite na time frame,” he said.

In January, PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa dissolved the Anti-Illegal Drug Group following President Rodrigo Duterte's order to disband all the anti-illegal drug units of the police organization.

This was because of the alleged involvement of SPO3 Ricky Sta. Isabel, Supt. Rafael Dumlao, and SPO4 Roy Villegas in the kidnapping and killing of Korean businessman Jee Ick Joo.

Dela Rosa earlier said there is a need to thoroughly vet the members of the new drug enforcement group to prevent the likes of Sta. Isabel to be part of the unit.

In a separate interview, Supt. Enrico Rigor, chief of PNP DEG legal and investigation division, admitted that the recruitment process in the defunct AIDG was not that stringent.

“Dati hindi ganoon ka-stringent pero ngayon continuous. Kahit na in ka na but eventually may nag-appear (na bad record), pwede ka pang ma-out,” he said.

“Pumasa si Sta isabel sa initial background check noon. He is a graduate of EOD (Explosive Ordnance Division). Highest security clearance ‘yun so lumusot siya,” he added.

Rigor said under the PNP DEG, more stringent measures and continuous background check have been put in place.

“To show you how strenuous is the recruitment process under the PNP DEG in the selection of personnel, we are required to submit our assignment background including the names of our former commanders just to make sure kung ano 'yung pinanggalingan, 'yung background namin,” he said.

Rigor added they are also required to submit their pay slip.

“Kung magkano ang take home pay namin so it will definitely help kung may temptation talaga o wala. It will definitely help in the selection process,” he said.

Rigor was one of the former member of the AIDG recruited to DEG.

“We cannot keep on reinventing the wheel. Kung nagpa-function ang tao nang maganda, why change it? Pinili kung sino 'yung nagpa'function sa dating AIDG at pinagtatrabaho, so right there and there maka-accomplish na tayo,” he said. —KG, GMA News