Marcos Jr. appoints Nerez as new PDEA chief

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed retired Police Major General Isagani Nerez as the new director general of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Nerez, a lawyer and law enforcer, replaces retired Police General Moro Virgilio Lazo.

He took his oath before Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Tuesday, February 4.

Prior to his appointment, Nerez served as Undersecretary for the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Military Affairs, chief superintendent of the Cordillera police, Baguio City police chief, and was a member of the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Task Force and Philippine National Police Anti-Kidnapping Group.

He was also part of a 2023 advisory group that screened courtesy resignations of high-ranking police officers for alleged involvement in illegal drugs.