56 ALIENS IN RP BUSTED FOR DRUGS

Fifty-six (56) foreigners linked to drug trafficking were arrested in
2004, bringing to 220 the number of foreigners arrested in illegal
drug activities since 2001, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
(PDEA) reported yesterday.

From January to December 2004, there were a total of 32 clandestine
illegal drug laboratories and chemical warehouses that were dismantled.

The arrest of the 56 foreigners and the dismantling of the
laboratories and warehouses were effected by operations of the PDEA,
Philippine National Police (PNP)-Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operations
Task Force (AID-SOTF), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau
of Customs (BoC), and other agencies, said Undersecretary Anselmo S.
Avenido Jr., PDEA director general.

The highest number of foreigners involved in illegal drugs who were
arrested was in 2003 with 75, followed by last year with 56, 55 in
2001, 24 in the first semester of 2002, and 13 in the second semester
of 2002.

The PDEA was established as the government's lead agency in the
nationwide campaign against illegal drugs by virtue of Republic Act
(RA) No. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs
Act of 2002.

For the year 2004, the PDEA reported that there were 26,633 drug
personalities arrested, 18,029 cases were filed in court, and more
than R20 billion worth of dangerous drugs, precursors, essential
chemicals, and equipment were seized or confiscated.

"In 2004, among the biggest laboratories discovered and dismantled
were those in Mandaue City, Cebu; Meycauayan, Bulacan; Pilar and
Mariveles, Bataan; and Davao City. In these laboratories alone, some
R8- billion worth of illegal drugs, precursors, and chemicals and
equipment were seized," said Avenido.

There were 10 transnational drug groups that were identified in 2004,
four of which have been neutralized, according to Avenido, who added
that one international drug group not included in the target list was
also neutralized.

Some 164 local drug groups were identified and 28 were neutralized.
Three of the local drug groups were not included in the target list
but were likewise neutralized.

Avenido said that the PDEA will continue to forge strong bilateral
relationships with foreign countries, including Japan, United States,
Taiwan, France, Poland, The Netherlands, Australia, Germany,
Singapore, Hong Kong, and other countries composing the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Senior Officials Meeting on Dangerous
Drugs (ASOD) and the heads of National Law Enforcement Agencies on
Dangerous Drugs (HONLEA).

Avenido said President Arroyo is the overall leader in the fight
against illegal drugs, drug rings, drug lords, and their socalled protectors.

"We in the PDEA are in close coordination with the DILG (Department of
Interior and Local Government) headed by Secretary Angelo Reyes, PNP
headed by Director General Edgar B. Aglipay, AID-SOTF under Director
Ricardo de Leon, the NBI headed by Director Reynaldo Wycoco, the
Immigration bureau under Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr., and the
Bureau of Customs now headed by Commissioner Bert Lina," he said.

There are so far 1,152 convictions and the highest punishment so far
meted was life imprisonment which was imposed on 26 drug convicts
while 1,126 were meted lower penalties.

Guided by a strong vision, PDEA aims to make the Philippines a
"Zerodrug country" by 2010 or earlier.