Veteran PDEA Officer Returns to Eastern Visayas as Regional Director

Posted on Feb. 9, 2026 at 3:02 pm

Tacloban City — A seasoned anti-illegal drugs officer with previous experience in Eastern Visayas has come back to the region, this time assuming the role of the top drug enforcement official following the appointment of Director III Levi S. Ortiz as the Regional Director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Office VIII on February 1.

Ortiz’s designation signified a homecoming for the experienced law enforcement officer, who previously served as a Drug Enforcement Officer in PDEA RO8 from 2007 to 2009. With over 31 years of law enforcement experience, he now leads the region’s efforts in combating illegal drugs amidst ongoing challenges posed by drug trafficking and distribution networks in Eastern Visayas.

Eastern Visayas remains a focal point for drug law enforcement authorities, with frequent seizures of shabu and marijuana and the recurring seizures of shabu and marijuana and the apprehension of drug personalities at various levels across the region.

While some barangays have been declared drug-cleared. PDEA officials have observed the persistence of courier-based trafficking, urban distribution hubs, and the resurgence of drug personalities, highlighting the necessity for sustained and coordinated enforcement actions.

Ortiz brings a solid academic and professional background to his new role. He ranked sixth in the 1994 Professional Criminologist Licensure Examination and obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with a Medal of Merit in 2012. Beginning his public service career with the Philippine National Police in 1995, he received accolades such as Most Outstanding Junior PNCO of the Year in 1999 and Investigator of the Year in 2000.

Joining PDEA in 2006 as part of the agency’s inaugural “Unang Sinag” class at the PDEA Academy, Ortiz was recognized with the Leadership Award as class president. In 2008, he was honored as PDEA Best Field Officer of the Year.

Ortiz has undergone extensive international training in narcotics investigation and law enforcement in Thailand, Japan, China, and South Korea, and completed advanced tactical training with the United States Marine Corps, including close-quarter battle, advanced marksmanship, and raid planning.

Prior to his reassignment to Eastern Visayas, Ortiz served as Regional Director of PDEA RO7 (Central Visayas), where operations under his leadership resulted in the seizure of over P1 billion worth of illegal drugs. He was commended by the Cebu City Sangguniang Panlungsod in 2023. Subsequently, he led PDEA RO2 to receive the Anti-Red Tape Authority’s Report Card Survey (ARTA RCS) Gold Award in 2024.

PDEA officials expressed confidence that Ortiz’s return to Eastern Visayas will bolster the region’s anti-illegal drug efforts and improve public safety. The regional office, under the leadership of Atty. Rhea Caminong warmly welcomed Ortiz, recognizing his leadership as a valuable asset to the agency’s ongoing fight against illegal drugs.

(Photo courtesy: PDEA 8)