COPS BRING ANTIDRUG DRIVE TO METRO BARS

MANILA, Philippines - In line with efforts to address the problem of
illegal drugs, Philippine National Police Director General Jesus
Verzosa Wednesday said he has ordered his men to conduct random drug
tests on clients of bars and similar establishments in Metro Manila.

"As part of the antidrug campaign, we want to deploy [antidrug] agents
to business establishments, especially high-end bars, and invite those
who [seem to be] under the influence of illegal drugs to be
immediately subjected to a drug test," he told reporters.

Verzosa was in Quezon City to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for a
new police and fire station that will be built on E. Rodriguez Avenue,
Barangay Bagumbayan in Quezon City.

The PNP chief, however, admitted that his directive might pose a
problem to his men who could end up being accused of violating the
rights of customers of the targeted establishments.

"What we can do is get the approval of the person concerned to undergo
a drug test so we would not be accused of infringement of human
rights," Verzosa said.

He added that the plan would also require the full cooperation of the
owners of business establishments in Metro Manila.

"Owners should allow policemen inside their premises and besides, if
their clients have nothing to hide, they would not refuse to [undergo]
a drug test," Verzosa said.

Quezon City Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista, chair of the city's antidrug
council who was also at the groundbreaking ceremony, expressed his
support for the PNP chief's plan to conduct random drug tests in
various entertainment establishments in the city.

"Drug testing is provided for in the Dangerous Drugs Act as long as
the person concerned will agree [to the procedure]," Bautista said.

Verzosa made the announcement as the top police official in Metro
Manila said several bars and clubs frequented by young people have
become drug "hot spots."

Citing information from the Regional Anti-Illegal Drug Special
Operations Task Group, National Capital Region Police Office Director
Leopoldo Bataoil said several entertainment establishments in Makati,
Taguig and Quezon City have been identified as places where there was
rampant selling of illegal drugs.

This has been confirmed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency,
according to Bataoil.

"Drug pushers have made these bars their hangouts and venues for
peddling illegal substances such as cocaine, marijuana, shabu and
ecstasy," he told the Inquirer.

"Students and other teenagers are their primary victims," Bataoil
said.

However, he declined to name the establishments, saying they were
closely coordinating with PDEA agents in "conducting dialogues" with
club owners and operators.

Asked if the Embassy Bar in Taguig was included in their watchlist, he
said, "Yes. I think the PDEA also confirmed it."

The management of the bar, however, earlier denied that illegal drugs
were being used or sold within the establishment.

The intensified campaign of the police against illegal drugs was
prompted by the controversy surrounding the "Alabang Boys," three men
who were arrested in drug busts in Alabang and Cubao, Quezon City.
According to PDEA, the three supplied drugs and other illegal
substances to customers of popular nightspots in Metro Manila.

Bataoil, meanwhile, said that only 300 of 1,671 barangays in the
metropolis have yet to be cleared of drugs.

According to him, records of the NCRPO's Regional Anti-Illegal Drug
Special Operations Task Group showed that 1,371 barangays were now
drug-free.

To clear the remaining villages of the drug menace, he urged police
officials to "reach out to the community and educate the people on the
ill-effects of drugs by conducting lectures in schools and barangay
sectors," he said in a statement.

Bataoil also asked local executives to support their campaign "to
totally eliminate the demand for illegal dugs."