Solicitor General Jose Calida said that there are five levels of the illegal drug triad operating in the country with members categorized according to the capability of the drug pusher to sell. He said, “level five is the top tier of the drug hierarchy.”

In a press briefing in Malacanang today, Calida said a certain Mr. Wu Tuan  (alias “Peter Co”) who is detained in the National Penitentiary, is the one responsible for the Luzon triad, including Metro Manila. He is also the leader of the so-called Bilibid 19 Gang.

The next level 5 drug lord is a certain Peter Lim also known as “Jaguar” who is in charge of the Visayas triad. This person is different from the Jaguar who was killed in an operation recently in Las Piñas City.

Calida mentioned former general Marcelo Garbo as the “associate” and “protector” on the the top level of the triad hierarchy.

Garbo is one of the five Philippine National Police (PNP) generals named by President Duterte on Tuesday as protectors of drug syndicates in the country.

The retired police general was the former PNP Deputy Chief for Operations and former Regional Director of PNP Region VII based in Cebu City. He belongs to PMA class 1981.

Quoting President Duterte, Calida discussed at the press conference Garbo’s involvement in drug trafficking in the Philippines.

He also named Herbert Colangco alias Ampang, who is detained at the New Bilibid Prison, as one of those involved in kidnapping for ransom and bank robberies.  Colangco is likewise a drug lord aligned with the Parojinog drug syndicate Kuratong Baleleng, said Calida.

According to the Sol-Gen,  there are lesser triad members who are regarded as persons of interest which include Chinese nationals, other PNP officials, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology officials, as well as local government officials. PRRD will disclose their identities in future press conferences, he added.

In his speech at the 69th anniversary of the Philippine Air Force, President Duterte ordered the relief of three active officers for their involvement in illegal drug trade — former National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Joel Pagdilao, Western Visayas regional director Chief Supt. Bernardo Diaz, and Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Chief Supt. Edgardo Tinio.

Former police general Vicente “Vic” Loot, now the mayor of Daanbantayan, Cebu, is also involved in illicit narcotics trade, according to the President. PND