ILOILO – A member of the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) received a death threat on April 12, delivered in a package that included formal attire and a handwritten letter claiming to be from the New People’s Army (NPA).
The package, sent directly to the operative’s residence, contained a barong, a pair of slacks, and a note accusing PDEU personnel of planting illegal drugs during operations.
The letter ended with a death threat and a warning of retaliation.
But PDEU chief Police Major Dadje Delima believes the sender is not a member of the NPA but likely a drug personality retaliating against the unit’s intensified operations.
“This does not seem to be the kind of tactic the NPA typically employs,” Delima said. “We believe someone is using the NPA’s name to intimidate our personnel and derail our efforts against illegal drugs.”
Delima assured that the PDEU strictly abides by legal procedures and rejected the accusation of planting evidence.
The incident has triggered an internal investigation and prompted increased security measures for PDEU members.
Authorities are currently pursuing leads that may point to individuals involved in the local drug trade who may have orchestrated the threat to undermine police operations./PN