PDEA CHIEF USES BULLETPROOF VEHICLE

MANILA, Philippines -- Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief
Dionisio Santiago now rides a bulletproof pickup truck, the only
precaution he said he has taken since being warned that hired killers are
out for his head.

"A friend lent me this [Ford F-150] because they say the threat is
serious...But you know, if you are going to be killed, or if God wants to
take you, you can die while sleeping," Santiago told reporters Tuesday.

"I won't make it my problem. It should be their problem how to kill me,"
said the former military chief, taking the supposed threats in stride.

The PDEA released an anonymous threatening Santiago and Marine Major
Ferdinand Marcelino, who exposed the bribery that allegedly accompanied
the dismissal by prosecutors of a drugs case against the "Alabang Boys,"
three scions of prominent families.

Santiago also claimed that drug lords have launched a "demolition job"
against the PDEA.

In a statement, Santiago cited text messages, anonymous letters, and news
articles claiming that PDEA agents were involved in killing two men in
Marikina City over the weekend.

"There is nothing new about lawless elements introducing themselves as
PDEA agents, police, or even military personnel to get away with crimes.
This is obviously part of a deliberate effort to discredit PDEA," Santiago
said.

The anonymous letter, a copy of which was shown to reporters, read:

"Mr. Dionisio Santiago and Maj. Marcelino, we know where your families and
relatives live. PDEA should be abolished because the people there are
stupid and corrupt. You have destroyed the reputation of important people
in society."

"We have hired mercenaries to kill you all and your loved ones. There is a
P10-million bounty on each of your heads. Your days, and that of your
relatives and families, are numbered. Not all the time you are lucky,"
read the letter.

The letter, postmarked Jan. 15, was typewritten and carried pictures of
Santiago and Marcelino.

PDEA officials showed the letter to reporters after hearing mass, said by
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabilio, with supporters from civic and
urban poor groups at the agency's complex in Quezon City.

"We are where truth is. We are showing support to those striving to tell
the truth," Pabilio told reporters after the mass.

"Our call is to continue investigating the Alabang Boys for us to know the
truth. It's not right to investigate the one accusing, the whistleblowers.
They are the ones being discredited," he told reporters.

Santiago said part of the supposed smear campaign against the PDEA were
questions raised by "disgruntled" personnel of the anti-narcotics agency
about the appointment of Marcelino.

There have also been allegations Marcelino had illegally acquired a
condominium unit in the still-to-rise Newport City residences at the
Villamor Air Base.

The Marine shrugged off the accusation and said there was nothing
irregular about reserving a second-floor studio unit in the condominium
building, costing roughly P3 million, by taking advantage of a presale
offer.

Marcelino said his in-laws in the US helped him pay the P12,000
downpayment for the unit and that his reservation has yet to be fully
processed.

"Those are just dirty tricks. That condominium is still but a dream for
me. They should look at how my family lives [inside the Philippine
Military Academy]," Marcelino said.