The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) expressed deep concern over another incident involving another woman who introduced herself as PDEA agent and extorted money.

Undersecretary Arturo Cacdac Jr., PDEA director general cited the recent arrest of Maricar Lazarte, a 31-year-old woman who posed as an agency operative, in an entrapment operation conducted on December 30, 2012.

Lazarte was arrested in a trap hatched by elements of the Caoayan, Ilocos Sur police after receiving a complaint from Michelle Avila, 37, who claimed that the suspect demanded money from her in exchange for the dropping of Avila’s name from the agency’s watch list of drug personalities in the province. Lazarte even threatened to harm Avila’s family.

Police reports revealed that Avila, fearing for her life, agreed to the demand of Lazarte and gave her P127,000, which was paid in two transactions during the month.

The suspect allegedly asked for protection money from drug pushers in Caoayan, in exchange for their removal from the provincial list of drug personalities.

“According to the records of PDEA Regional Office 1 Watch List and Master List of Confidential Agents, neither Lazarte nor Avila’s name exists. Our adversaries might think that we are protecting their people. We are not in the business of tagging names of drug personalities and let them go scot-free in exchange for money. The only way for them to get their names off our list is by landing behind bars,” Cacdac said.
 
The PDEA chief reiterated his call to the public to be watchful of persons claiming to be PDEA agents and verify their identity from its nearest regional office.