POLICE GENERAL SEEKS REFORMS IN ANTI-DRUG DRIVE

BUTUAN City----Caraga police director Chief Supt. Alberto Olario has sought
some changes in confronting the drug problem saying that he is now drafting
a resolution for submission to the Regional Development Council.

"Considering the widespread use and abuse and trafficking of illegal drugs,
there is need to improve approaches to confront the problem," he said.

Among Olario's proposals are:

Assignment of a court and judge to primarily hear drug-related cases;

Assignment of a special prosecutor to mainly handle drug-related cases;

Establishment of a rehabilitation center in Caraga Region;

Expansion of jails in Region 13 to accommodate drug offenders.

According to Olario, the continuing increase in apprehensions of suspected
drug offenders sums up to expansion in the number of drug-related cases.

For this reason, Olario said, a special court and a judge should be
established as well as a special prosecutor be assigned to speed up the
resolution of drug-related cases.

This, he said, is for the cases not to be delayed ``for the sake of the
suspect himself and his family who will suffer in terms of time and money"

Olario emphasized that the campaign against illegal drugs does not depend
mainly on supply and demand reduction but also concerns about the speedy
resolution of cases.

Besides the apprehension of drug traffickers, Olario said, the drug victims
should also be cared for through a rehabilitation center complete with
facilities.

Caraga Region, he said, has neither a rehabilitation center nor facilities
to house drug pushers. "With the region's size and the growing of drug
abusers, I sincerely believe, it needs a rehabilitation center," he said.

On the offenders' side, Olario said they should also be given a chance to
reform. This can be done, he said, "by expanding existing jails to
accommodate drug offenders and making use of this expansion by making it a
real correctional institution where they will have an opportunity to change
their ways and become useful and responsible members of society".

Olario said he would have the resolution containing his proposals signed by
the RDC members and submit it to the chairman, Surigao del Sur Gov. Vicente
Pimentel for appropriate action.

Meanwhile, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General
Anselmo Avenido has expressed confidence that all the 175 local drug groups
operating throughout the country would be "neutralized" by Sept. 18, the
target date set by President Arroyo for the agency to show that the campaign
against illegal drugs is moving.

At a press conference held after the 1st Caraga Anti-Drug Summit over the
weekend, Avenido said that so far one-half of the local groups has been
"neutralized" and the enthusiastic support shown by all concerned sectors he
said has encouraged him and his men to "leave the target unchanged".

Avenido reported that his agency has dismantled five big shabu laboratories
in Luzon apart from the arrests of drug traffickers in other areas in the
country.

"We are confident that we can solve our drug problem. I see no reason why we
can not succeed," he said.

According to Avenido, PDEA's operational focus was not something special as
it has always been directed at "supply and demand reduction" similar to the
system applied by participating agencies like the Philippine National
Police.

When asked about the financial support of the government, the PDEA chief
said his agency initially encountered some hitches which were later resolved
for them to operate smoothly.

He said the aside from apprehending drug pushers, PDEA is now working on the
establishment of rehabilitation centers for drug abusers. In fact, he said,
they are now keen on converting existing but non-operating hospitals into
rehabilitation center for drug addicts.

With the devolution of health services to local governments, Avenido said
some hospitals have stopped operation for lack of funding support. "With
help from the national government and the private sector, drug victims can
make use of these hospitals buildings for rehabilitation."

Avenido said the campaign against illegal drugs should not be tainted with
politics and should be support by everyone regardless of political
affiliation or belief. "Drug addiction, trafficking and drug manufacturing
are a problem that has to be solved for the sake of our country and its
future," he said.

He said 80 percent of inmates in the country were charged with crimes that
invariably involve drugs. "This is how dangerous drugs have affected our
society which should be a cause for alarm," he said.