GOVERNOR TO GET ANTI-DRUG AWARD

Cavite Gov. Ramon "Bong" Revilla Jr. flies to the United States today
to receive an award from the International Narcotics Enforcement
Officers Association in Albany, New York, for his "unrelenting effort
against illegal drugs."

The conferment of the special award will be made on Oct. 11 at the
grand ballroom of the world-renowned Omni Hotel in Albany in time for
the opening session of the association's 40th annual conference.

Expected to witness the occasion are leaders of the various Filipino
communities, particularly those from the province of Cavite in the
Philippines and US-based media practitioners, most of whom are
Revilla's friends and old-time acquaintances.

Revilla is a popular movie star in the Philippines and idolized for
his action roles.

The award is the second for a Filipino or Asian since Sen. Tito Sotto
snared the first one in 1992 for his effort to bust illegal drug
syndicates in Metro Manila.

John Bellizi, INEOA's executive director, had earlier informed
Revilla, in a faxed message, of his selection as winner of the year's
edition, citing his courage, patience, and determination to stump out
criminality as a result of drug addiction in his province.

After a thorough and strict evaluation of his qualifications,
credentials and accomplishments, the young governor - who just turned
33 last Sept. 25 - emerged runaway winner over more than 100 other
candidates for his unprecedented performance as chief of C-MAC or
Cavite Multi-Agency Anti-Drug Abuse Council. He is also chairman of
Region 4 Peace and Order Council.

Performance-wise, it was C-MAC which recorded the biggest shabu haul
in Philippine history when its operations led to the discovery and
eventual confiscation of more than 200 kilos of the illegal stuff in
Tagaytay City more than a month ago. The goods were worth P200
million, according to estimates made by police authorities. It could
be more, they said.

Actually, the award did not come that easy. It was not an overnight
success. The task of fighting drug syndicates was tumultuous and
risky. Drug syndicates do not hesitate to kill anybody that stands on
their way.

Soon after Revilla assumed office as Cavite's vice governor, C-MAC was
conceived for the purpose of combating the illegal drug trade that had
flourished like a killer plague.

It was recalled that Cavite crawled with addicts, smugglers and
carnapers in the last three decades. So notorious that it was tagged
the local counterpart of Colombia or the world's haven for druglords,
smuggling dons and carnap artists.

As a result, murder and salvaging became an ordinary event, almost
synonymous to sunrise and sunset, so to speak.

Revilla has arrived - like the Knight with shining armor in King
Arthur's Court who saved a lady in distress - to put an end to the
province's despair.

It was Cavite's most inglorious moment. There appeared to be no
stopping the province's march to ignominious fate.

Its political leaders were so blinded to the sad reality and turned
deaf to the call of duty that they instead busied themselves lining
and filling their pockets while the province cried for action.

Upon assuming as governor of the province, Revilla rolled up his
sleeves and pursued relentlessly the campaign against illegal drugs.

The efforts and tenacity of Cavite's illegal drug fighters did pay
off. The province has transformed itself into an investors' paradise
as the dredges of society have faded and gone in oblivion with
Revilla's unrelenting campaign against all forms of criminality, top
most of which is the peddling of illegal drugs.

It paid off and Cavite, a land of heroes and martyrs, is now proud to
play host to foreign investors and tourists.

Revilla's untiring effort against the evil of illegal drugs has drawn
worldwide attention and the award to be conferred upon him is the
first such an honor to be accorded a provincial executive in Asia if
not throughout the world.

It is another testimony to his patriotism like those who shed blood
and gave their lives to liberate their country from foreign domination.

On September 3, the province had launched the biggest rally yet in its
history to dramatize the seriousness and gravity of the drug menace in
the country.

Some 60,000 people braved the rains and converged at the Imus (Cavite)
town plaza, for the occasion which coincided with the celebration of
the infamous 103rd "Battle of Imus" where local revolutionaries
defeated the enemy despite their superior arms.

In his brief remarks, Revilla recalled that the Katipuneros won their
battle against the colonizers with their sheer guts and gallantry. He
stressed that unity was the secret weapon that spelled disaster to the
enemies.

"Kailangan natin ang pagkakaisa para durugin ang masamang epekto ng
droga gaya ng pagkakaisang ipinakita ng mga bayani ng Imus may 103
taon na ang nakalilipas," Revilla said time and again.

There is no turning back now, Cavite is bound to regain paradise lost,
added Revilla.=20