MONTALBA: ORO POLICE KEEPING AN EYE ON 100 SUSPECTED DRUG PUSHERS

OVER 100 suspected drug pushers in Cagayan de Oro are being monitored by
the police.

Cagayan de Oro City Police Office acting director Chief Insp. Antonio
Montalba said the local police has been coordinating with the Philippine
Drug Enforcement Agency-10 (PDEA-10) and the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse
Council in keeping an eye on the suspects.

Montalba admitted he could not assure that the police would be able arrest
all the suspects given the difficulty of gathering evidence.

He said the city police is working hard to gather sufficient evidence so
that by the time suspects are arrested, the prospects of winning a court
conviction would be wide.

Meanwhile, a councilor has proposed that all city hall officials and
employees undergo drug tests.

Councilor Reynaldo Advincu-la said that if the city council's committee on
health can have its way, all city government officials and employees would
be subjected to drug tests.

Advincula also said random tests should be done so that people who would be
examined will not be able to prepare.

Random drug tests, according to Advincula, would ensure that any drug user
in city hall's approximately 3,000 work force would be caught.

But Advincula's proposal doesn't end at city hall. He said random drug
tests must also be imposed on drivers in the city.

Advincula said drivers, especially those driving public vehicles, must be
flagged down right at the city thoroughfares and their urine samples tested
immediately.

He said this can be done by the Department of Health (DOH), the police
and/or the Land Transportation Office.