PDEA MONITORING LOCAL PERSONALITIES IN DRUGS

PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is intensifying its
operation against illegal drugs activity in Davao Region even as it
keeps a list of personalities who are involved in the illegal trade.

"Meron kaming mga mino-monitor dito sa Davao na mga personalities.
Hindi ko muna masabi ngayon pero meron yang mga pangalan sa amin,"
said Chief Superintendent Roybel Sanchez of PDEA-Southern Mindanao.

"Meron kaming mga pangalan ngayon under national surveillance, at mino
monitor. So later on pagnahuli na namin ito, malalaman niyo rin yan.
Pero tuloy-tuloy lang ang surveillance namin diyan," Sanchez added.

PDEA-Southern Mindanao reported that a total of P708,808 worth of
illegal drugs have been seized in Davao City from January to present.

According to Sanchez, from 72 operations conducted by the agency, 189
drug suspects were arrested.

"These persons arrested are cultivators, possessors, pushers,
traffickers and users," Sanchez said.

All over Davao Region, PDEA conducted 142 operations, arrested 189
suspects, and seized P1,489,981 worth of drugs, Sanchez said.

Sanchez on Friday reported the first case of ecstacy dealing in the
city during the Kadayawan Festival.

"Last Kadayawan, we were able to arrest two female pushers who were
selling ecstacy. Nahuli po namin doon ay ecstacy. Nabili po namin doon
ang dalawa for 1,800 bawat isa, tapos sa possession nila may nahuli pa
kaming dalawa pa," Sanchez said in Friday's Kapihan sa PIA.

"We received information one week before the Kadayawan Festival. So
umpisa noon tuloy-tuloy ang monitoring namin hanggat may nahuli kami
sa Autoshop. Isang 21 at isang 23 years old ang mga suspects," Sanchez
said.

Also on Friday, Regional State Prosecutor Antonio Arellano
congratulated law enforcers in the region for effective enforcement of
anti-illegal drugs law.

"Region 11 (Southern Mindanao) topped the country in (the prosecution
of) drug cases at 65 percent conviction as of January, 2009, according
to the data gathered by the Dangerous Drugs Board, and the region was
recognized for that," Arellano said.

"Region 8 (Eastern Visayas) has 58 percent dismissed (cases), Caraga
has 50 percent, that's the situation in the other regions. Drug cases'
prosecution cannot almost succeed in drug case there, but (in Davao
Region) we are doing good. That couldn't have been done without
effective prosecution," Arellano said. (JCZ)