PDEA URGED TO WIPE OUT DRUG HOTBEDS

ALARMED by the emerging trend of drug "tiangges," the Partido
Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas yesterday called on authorities
to deploy additional anti-drug agents or drug marshals in barangays,
particularly those considered to be hotbeds of pushers and users.

The group also urged the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to
intensify police patrols and enhance its intelligence gathering
operation especially in hard-to-reach communities to stop the
proliferation of drug stalls.

The PDSP also asked PDEA chief Anselmo Avenido to improve the agency's
sleuthing to be able to pinpoint more drug flea markets similar to
that raided in Pasig City recently where shabu and drug paraphernalia
were sold.

Launching operations against organized crime, including neutralizing
or arresting and indicting big-time drug traffickers, is part of the
PDSP's "program points for addressing the revolutionary situation"
which it made public during the launching of its call for "social
revolution."

"Illegal drugs are among the biggest scourges in any society. They
destroy lives and families and spawn criminality. Gen. Avenido should
crack down on drug pushers and policemen protecting them. He should
not stop until the drug supply in the country has been reduced to a
trickle," PDSP spokesperson lawyer Jose "Nonong" Ricafrente said.

Early this week, police also raided a barangay in Pasay City following
reports of the operation of drug "tiangges" similar to those found in
Pasig.

The group warned there could be more of these "take all you can" drug
colonies.

"The discovery of the Pasig shabu market is scary. That these drug
stalls were able to operate for so long is also alarming. Clearly,
there is a need not only to intensify the campaign against drugs but
to crack down on corrupt police personnel who abet the operations of
drug pushers for a fee," Ricafrente said.

He added the PDEA should sustain drug operations in barangays where
suspected pushers operate. The anti-drug agency should also identify
areas which are not reached by police patrols and deploy agents there
"to sniff out the area."