CONGRESS URGED TO PASS TOUGHER ANTI-DRUGS LAW

Sen. Robert Z. Barbers, chairman of the Senate public order and illegal
drugs committee, yesterday expressed optimism that the illegal drug menace
will soon be ''a thing of the past'' after Congress passes a tougher
anti-narcotics law to replace the weak and largely ineffective Dangerous
Drugs Act of 1972.

Barbers said that the days of drug traffickers who have amassed millions of
pesos at a cost of many ruined lives of Filipinos, mostly young, are
numbered.

He said he is working very hard to have his Senate Bill No. 135 passed as
soon as possible more teeth to the law against drug traffickers, pushers,
and other drug law violators who have become bolder in their operations.

Barbers said his committee will come out with its report on his Senate bill
in the second week of August which will be calendared for debate on the
Senate floor.

The former Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary
urged his colleagues in the House of Representatives to pass the House
version of his bill immediately "so that stronger anti-illegal drugs laws
can be enforced next year."

The Senate bill provides for a wider range of penalties for illegal drug
violators and declares the mere possession of at least 10 grams of illegal
substances such as shabu, opium, morphine, resin oil, and cocaine as a
non-bailable offense.

Barbers said the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), the Philippine National Police
(PNP), and various civic and non-government organizations (NGOs) strongly
support this provision, saying this will make it more difficult, if not
impossible, for illegal drug operators to get away with their crime.

The Senate bill abolishes the provision on plea bargaining and prohibits
convicted drug traffickers and pushers from seeking probation.

Another important feature of the measure, Barbers said, is the establishment
of a Presidential Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) patterned after the US Drug
Enforcement Agency (USDEA) and which is envisioned to be lead the
government's total war against dangerous drugs.

"The illegal drugs menace is now considered public enemy No.1 all over the
world and poses a grave threat to our country's national security. It has
alarmingly penetrated almost all sectors and levels of society including the
government, business, and even law enforcement agencies, and it may only
take a little more time before the Philippines becomes another Colombia,"
Barbers said.

Autonomous Region for Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) Gov. Nur Misuari had earlier
testified before the Senate local government committee led by Sen. Aquilino
Q. Pimentel Jr. that he himself is having a hard time trying to control the
inflow of illegal drugs in the ARMM, particularly Jolo, where some Muslims
had been told that shabu is a medicine for colds and other medical problems.

Barbers also noted reports that some Muslim rebels, particularly members of
the terrorist group Abu Sayyaf, are hooked on drugs and have allegedly
resorted to drug trafficking to maintain their vice and raise funds to
further their criminal activities.

He cited reports that some drug-crazed Abu Sayyaf members had taken
advantage of their female kidnap-for-ransom victims.

Barbers said there are more concrete and effective measures to address the
problem.

Barbers appealed to the House to waste no time in enacting the counterpart
measure of SB 135 to stop the illegal drugs trade.

"The law against illegal drugs unwittingly binds the hands of law enforcers
by subjecting them to legal and procedural obstacles towards the successful
prosecution of drug cases. SB 135 will correct this law," Barbers said.