PDEA REGIONAL OFFICE

Brief History

After the enactment of RA 9165 in July 2002, the PDEA Region IV- B (MIMAROPA) established its office on December 10, 2003 at Bagong Pook, City. It was headed by P/SUPT. EDGARDO PEREZ Y LOPEZ, detailed officer from PNP, the first Acting Regional Director. The deputized PNP personnel manned the Office.

In 2004, P/SUPT SALAZAR SUCCEEDED P/SUPT. PEREZ. During his term, the Regional Office was transferred to Brgy. Sta. Maria Village Subdivision apartment where it housed also the PDEA Personnel, the first set of Drug Enforcement Officers who graduated from PDEA Academy under “Class Unang Sinag”.

On November 16, 2006, P/SUPT. REYNALDO RAMIREZ replaced PSUPT SALAZAR and the former spearheaded the raids of two Marijuana Plantations in Upper Langkawan in and Happy Valley in the Municipality of Roxas.

On January 12, 2007, P/SUPT JUNE JAMOLO assumed as the new Regional Director until July 5, 2007. After his short stint of stay he was to replace by P/SUPT FRANCISCO GABRIEL JR., however it was delayed and IO II WARDLEY M GETALLA became the Officer-in Charge until August 10, 2007 .

In this year, the Regional office transferred to Unit 14, Filipiniana Complex, Calapan City.

Likewise, a Clandestine Laboratory in Brgy. and a drug warehouse in Brgy. Comunal both in Calapan City were discovered.

On January 8, 2008, PSUPT GABRIEL JR was relieved and the office was temporarily handled by SPO3 NOEL ALMERINO.

On October 16, 2008 PCI MARIJANE T OJASTRO assumed as Regional Director. She initiated the establishments of Satellite Offices in the provinces of and , Occidental .

In the same year, the first set of Administrative/Technical personnel emerged in the Region.

On September 18, 2009, DIR III EMERSON L MARGATE became the Officer–In- Charge after the relief of PCI Ojastro. During his term, Calapan City was Declared Drug Free City. This Project was initially work out during the administration of PCI Ojastro.

On May 9, 2011 a turn-over ceremony was conducted for the relinquishment of duties as RD of DIR MARGATE and assumption of duties of the then PDEA, DDGA, DIR LYNDON P ASPACIO.

Various Drug personalities at Barangay Paclasan, Roxas Or. Mindoro were apprehended, joint efforts with PNP and 4th IB Philippine Army were established.

On August 07, 2012, DIR BRYAN B BABANG assumed as Regional Director of PDEA RO IV- B . The office strengthens the demand reduction efforts of the region. They conducted the 1st first ever Motorcade, Football Competition, Mini concert and Fun Run in line with the celebration of the Drug Awareness, Prevention and Control (DAPC) Week.

In 2013, due to increasing number of personnel another unit was leased at the same complex. A forensic laboratory was constructed to its 3rd floor and inaugurated on Nov. 15, 2013.

In 2014, the region received an award for being the PECI Pioneer Achievement Award for commendable initiative in publishing “Sail, Fly Bust”, the first PDEA Regional Office Newsletter.

On May 13, 2015, DIR ARCHIE A. GRANDE assumed as the New Regional Director. Various high value target personalities were arrested which made the Region a “BETTER” Regional Office of the Agency based on the Office Performance Commitment Review 2016.

On December 7, 2016, ATTY. JACQUELYN L. DE GUZMAN replaced Dir Grande as Regional Director. The office garnered Very Satisfactory Rating Performance.

Multipurpose building was constructed for PDEA RO MIMAROPA Building through P2,000,000.00 fund allocated by the Office of Senator Antonio F. Trillanes IV. This is located on the lot provided by Provincial Government of (PGOM) through Usufruct Agreement entered into by the PDEA represented by USEC. ARTURO G. CACDAC JR and Provincial Government of Oriental Mindoro represented by Governor Alfonso V Umali covering the conveyance a parcel of land consisting of 570 sq.m more or less located at Brgy. Sta. Isabel, Calapan City. This is a continuous effort made by leadership of the Region since the coordination with various government offices for possible donation of land for the construction of PDEA Building started under PCI Ojastro until November 2012 the PGOM opened its door for PDEA for Usufruct agreement and was finalized until June 4, 2014.

Then, On June 27, 2017, the Multipurpose building expanded and started the construction of a three- storey building under GAA approved Budget FY 2017 in the amount of P20,000,000.00.

On September 12, 2017, ATTY JACQUELYN L DE GUZMAN was relieved from PDEA RO IV-B thus IA V RYAN S CAZEÑAS act as Officer-in-Charge, PDEA RO IV-B while waiting for the new RD.

On October 12, 2017, DIR MARIO D. RAMOS assumed as Regional Director RO MIMAROPA. In 2017, the office commended by clearing 658 or 80% of Drug affected barangays in the Region. Further, Provincial offices for and were duly established to include Airport Interdiction Unit (AIU) and Seaport Inter- Agency Drug Interdiction Task Group (SIADITG).

The New Regional Office Building was completed on December 15, 2017 and became fully operationalized on September 2018.

In this year, the PDEA RO MIMAROPA recorded the highest marijuana seizure in the Region since PDEA’ Creation for the successful operation and confiscation of 4, 848 grams of marijuana dried leaves. To date, the ROC BDCO chaired by RD PDEA MIMAROPA successfully validated and declared 817 Barangays and 39 Municipalities as Drug Cleared with the Integrated Support of all stakeholders.

Presently, the PDEA Regional Office MIMAROPA continue its avowed service to humanity of eradicating the drug menace in the region. The PDEA Vision and Mission which are the legal weapons against the illegal drugs will be firmed at all times and will stand with dignity and bravery in behalf of our beloved country.

AREA OF JURISDICTION

PDEA RO MIMAROPA has established Provincial Offices in the Region covering the Provinces of Oriental, , Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan. These provincial offices in close coordination with other law enforcement agencies respond to the needs of the public with respect to issues of illegal trafficking of dangerous drugs in their respective area of responsibilities.

Despite the difficulties due to the vast seas separating each province, efforts in the anti-drug campaign yielded positive results as seen in numerous significant anti- drug operations conducted. Moreover, established AIU and SIADITG to strengthen its security against drug syndicates transporting dangerous drugs into and out of the province through its maritime ports which are part of the Strong Nautical Highway that connects the three island groups of the – , and .

Geographical Location:

Area of Operation: Region MIMAROPA

Island Group: Luzon Area: 12,559.80 km² Population: 2, 559, 791 Provinces: 5 (Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan)

Cities: 2 Municipalities: 71 Baranagays: 1, 460 Photocredit:http://www.darfu4b.da.gov.ph/background_a.html