PDEA, PNP HIT DISMISSAL OF ILLEGAL DRUG COMPLAINTS

While Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Philippine National
Police personnel in Oriental Negros are complaining about the
dismissals of drug cases, a government lawyer said their men should
study more the laws on drugs to ensure the conviction of arrested suspects.

Provincial legal officer Erwin Vergara said some PDEA personnel and
PNP members in the third district of the province have complained to
him about the series of dismissals of drug cases, which they said, has
weakened their morale.

Vergara said he conferred on this with Judge Orlando Velasco, of the
Regional Trial Court Branch 63 in Bayawan City, the lone RTC in the
third district, and found out that the dismissals were due to
procedural and technical defects on the part of the law enforcers.

He added that he understands the plight of the law enforcers, but
stressed that the law must be followed. The Commission on Human Rights
shared Vergara's observation. CHR special investigator Jess Canete
said that there were many instances when police officers did not
follow the law in conducting arrests.

In some cases, Canete said the arrests, although done in good faith,
resulted in human rights violation.

Vergara said such law enforcers need to be trained in building up
strong cases, including the gathering of evidence, and the conduct of
search and arrest.