PDEA URGED TO INTENSIFY FIGHT VS ILLEGAL DRUGS

THE Malacanang on Saturday ordered Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
(PDEA) to strengthen its campaign against illegal drugs especially in
the nearing election period.

This instruction was made two days after President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo led the obliteration of large volume of shabu and
high-grade cocaine seized in Eastern Samar.

The administration believed that this illegal operation is
election-related.

Secretary to the Cabinet and Lakas-Kampi senatorial bet Silvestre
Bello III said PDEA should double its effort to crack down illegal
drugs to ensure that election season would be free from drug-related
incidence.

Bello added that PDEA's intensified clearing-out of illegal drug
operators could allay fears of ordinary citizen that election day
would be tainted by issues concerning drugs.

In line with the order, President Arroyo will be convening PDEA
director-general Dionesio Santiago at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

The Palace official said Arroyo has asked Santiago to make a
comprehensive report regarding the agency's anti-illegal drugs drive.

Arroyo is scheduled to hold the weekly cabinet meeting in Baguio City
on Tuesday.

On Thursday, Arroyo witnessed the destruction of about P640 million
worth of shabu and cocaine seized by PDEA agents in drug operations in
Dingalan, Aurora and in the towns of Llorente and Maydolong in Eastern
Samar.

The President meanwhile commended the PDEA stressing the government's
unwavering commitment to crush illegal drug operation.

More bricks recovered

Drug problem will top the agenda of Arroyo's last Cabinet meeting for
this year as Bello said that PDEA confirmed more bricks had been
recovered in Eastern Samar this week.

"We have to know the real situation on the drug problem in the
country. We are relying on the capability of drug enforcement
agencies. If they cannot crack down on drug rings, we may see the
election being influenced in favor of the interests of drug cartels,"
Bello said over radio interview.

According to PDEA, more of the bricks were recovered off Eastern Samar
province, less than a week after local fishermen found cocaine bricks
floating there.

PDEA deputy director for operations Rodolfo Caisip did not give more
details but said the bricks were being brought to PDEA
headquarters.

"There were more bricks recovered up to now. They will be brought to
our office in Metro Manila," Caisip said in an interview on dzRH radio.

But Caisip also warned fishermen in Eastern Samar province against
keeping some of the cocaine bricks they spotted earlier this week,
saying they may face life imprisonment if caught in possession of the
drugs.

Citing reports reaching him, Caisip said fishermen initially found and
turned over some 46 bricks earlier this week. The bricks were among
the drugs destroyed Thursday.

The bricks were found off Llorente town in Eastern Samar. Caisip said
they suspect a drug ring may have dropped them in the water for their
colleagues to retrieve.

"The retrieval of bricks is continuous. The bricks were meant to be
dropped in the water because they were kept in airtight packaging," he
said.

He said the cocaine was powdered and placed in rectangular packaging.
(Jill Beltran/JMR/Sunnex)