'HOUDINI' COPS IN DRUG TRIALS FACE SLAMMER

POLICE and soldiers who do "Houdini" acts during the trial of drug dealers
they had apprehended may soon end up in jail.

This, as the House justice committee had approved a bill seeking punishment
for law enforcers who fail to testify in drug trials.

Up for floor debates is House Bill 6867, which slaps a fine of up to
P20,000 and jail terms of up to two years against government employees who
"fail or refuse to appear as witness for the prosecution in any proceedings
involving violation of the Dangerous Drugs Law."

The bill, authored by Rep. Ace Barbers, also seeks to punish the superior
of the errant employee with imprisonment of up to six months and an extra
fine of up to P1,000.

Barbers (Lakas, Surigao del Norte) said the bill is needed to "curb rampant
absenteeism by law enforcement officers during the trial of the drug
dealers they themselves had arrested."

Last year, a Justice department report blamed the non-appearance of
apprehending officers during trials, as most-often cause of acquittal for
drug traffickers, or dismissal of the cases filed against them.

"They walk free, by default, courtesy of law enforcers who seem not to run
out of excuses for being absent in court," Barbers said. "The prosecution's
case is often subverted by its natural allies. Taxpayers' money spent in
apprehending drug dealers go to waste when those who are trusted to uphold
the law lose interest in appearing in court."