GMA NAMES HERSELF ANTI-ILLEGAL DRUG CZAR

President Gloria Arroyo appointed herself on Tuesday as the "czar"
that would lead the government's fight against illegal drugs to show
her administration's seriousness to eradicate the drug menace.

"I will temporarily act as the czar, or overseer of the war against
illegal drugs. Then, I will turn over the job to the tandem of Tito
Sotto and Jionex Santiago," President Arroyo said in a statement
during Tuesday's Cabinet meeting in Malacanang. Tito is Vicente Sotto
3rd, a former senator and now chief of the Dangerous Drugs Board, and
Jionex is Dionisio Santiago, who heads the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The President's decision to lead the fight against banned substances
was hailed by leaders in the Senate and House of Representatives.

"The drug problem is worse than the problem of terrorism," Senate
Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said. "I am glad that the
President is now our anti-drug czar, because all executive officers
are under her. She can order a review of all drugs cases dismissed
and their revival if warranted."

Zubiri added that Mrs. Arroyo's decision was not an "indictment" of
the performance on the job of Sotto and Santiago.

"It is not bad for PDEA to seek [the President's] help to curb
illegal drugs. They [in the drug agency] are getting frustrated
because they have been making numerous arrests but the suspects are
usually released," he said.

The anti-drug agency has had a run-in with the Department of Justice
over the case of the "Alabang Boys"--three young men from rich
families who are detained on drug charges. From the case emerged
allegations made by the agency that Justice officials, including
state prosecutors, received P50 million in bribes in exchange for the
dropping of drug-trafficking charges against the "Alabang Boys." The
officials denied the charges.

Leave Begins

On Monday, five officials of the Justice department began their
indefinite leave of absence that the President had asked them to do
over the bribery allegation. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said an
independent panel that the President had asked him to form would
investigate the five officials. None from anti-drug agency was asked
to vacate his post temporarily over the same scandal.

House Speaker Prospero Nograles said that "nobody can do it better"
than Mrs. Arroyo in battling illegal drugs.

In a text message, he pointed to the "vast power and resources of the
President."

Mrs. Arroyo leading the fight, Nograles said, would be a signal to
drug traffickers to stop their illegal activities.

The President would likely remain as the drug czar until January 27,
or when the independent panel comes up with a full report on drug
issues stemming from the controversial case of "Alabang Boys." The
panel is expected to be organized this week.

War vs. 'Termites'

She likened illegal drugs to termites that tear down the foundation
of families and the entire society and "a country awash with illegal
drugs is a country compromised, its law-and-order institutions
tainted and corrupted."

The government, Mrs. Arroyo said, is mapping out an all-out war
against the drug menace and that blueprint would be three-pronged approach.

"The war shall be waged from three fronts, a trinity against illegal
drugs," she added. The three components, according to her, will be
law enforcement, judicial action and policy-making.

Policy-making, the President said, would involve crafting a
comprehensive framework consisting of prevention, enforcement and
rehabilitation.

She called on local governments (LGUs), the academe, the church and
other sectors to intensify their campaign against illegal drugs.

"The LGUs that can declare a barangay [village], municipality, city
and province as 'drug-free' will be rewarded with development
pro-jects to sustain their efforts and ensure a bright future for our
children and communities," the President said.

Drug Councils

She approved the immediate activation of all local drug councils
nationwide as well as the imposition of random testing in all
secondary and tertiary schools, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza said.

Dureza added that the Department of Education and the Commission on
Higher Education have agreed to the random testing because of alleged
proliferation of drugs in schools and the two agencies can intervene
to stop it.

He said the President has instructed the Department of Health to put
up additional rehabilitation centers in the country to address the
growing number of drug addicts needing care and rehabilitation.

Dureza said the country needs six to eight new rehabilitation centers
in at least four regions.

Asian Transit Point

The US government has identified the Philippines as a major Asian
transit point for drugs, including methamphetamines, heroin and
"Ecstasy" party pills.

Independent crime watchdogs say that while Manila in theory has among
the region's toughest drug laws--prescribing life in jail to
traffickers--law- enforcement agencies are hobbled by corruption.

Manila police chief Leopoldo Bataoil said methamphetamine
hydrochloride, also known as "ice" or "shabu," remained the illegal
drug of choice in Metro Manila, a metropolis of 12 million people,
but that "Ecstasy" was gaining popularity among the young of the upper classes.

"Shabu" is followed by marijuana, he added, and "Ecstasy is believed
to be circulating in bars and night joints frequented by affluent
young adults."

Manila police filed more than 6,000 drug cases last year.