PDEA MARKS ANNIVERSARY

IN COMMEMORATING its creation six years ago, the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional office acknowledged the role the
community has played since its creation.

This, as Chief Inspector Edgar Apalla, officer-in-charge (OIC) of
the PDEA regional office in the Cordillera, pointed to the need of
improving the delivery of drug law enforcement services brought
about the enactment of Republic Act (RA) 9165, which was approved by
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on June 7, 2002 and took effect on
July 4 the same year.

"This led to the abolition of the National Drug Law Enforcement and
Prevention Coordinating Center, the Philippine National Police
Narcotics Group, the National Bureau of Investigation Narcotics Unit
and the Customs Narcotics Interdiction Office; and paved the way
for the organization and activation of the PDEA to pursue more
concrete courses of action for the national anti-drug campaign, and
to operate for and ensure the imposition of heavier penalties to
drug offenders," he said.

Apalla explained in its campaign to promote a lasting drug-free
society in the Cordillera, "the fledgling PDEA-Cordillera
Administrative Region (CAR) experienced situations on various times
that carried it into the limelight with its successes and also some
failures, yet it never faltered."

He said with the help of Cordillera officials and residents, "our
unit continued to stand conscious of its delicate mission of
implementing the new anti-drug law, of eliminating supply and demand
of dangerous drugs, of preventing and controlling drug-related
crimes, and of providing a drug-free Cordillera".

After six years of existence, Apalla said the PDEA-CAR continues to
withstand the test of time. It constantly met the demands of the
toughest challenges of the changing times with renewed vigor and resiliency.

Up to now, he said, it continuously stands firm on the ground in the
effort to uphold its mandate of serving the Cordillera people and
protecting its youths.

"This regional unit is one with the PDEA national office in ensuring
the agency lives up to the Filipino people's expectation," Apalla added. (ENO)