BOARD MEMBER SEEKS CREATION OF ANTI-CRIME BODY

FIFTH District Board Member Niel "Junjun" Tupas Jr. proposed Tuesday
the creation of a task force that will fight illegal drugs and other
illegal activities in Iloilo.

Tupas urged his colleagues to adopt a resolution requesting his
father, Governor Niel Tupas Sr., to create a task force for such purpose.

"Let us embark on a crusade against the drug syndicates in the
Province of Iloilo, against some of our policemen who are in collusion
with the syndicates, (who) take no action to stop these illegal
activities, and against some politicians who are involved in the
lucrative trade of illegal drugs and other forms of criminality,"
Tupas appealed in his privilege speech during the Provincial Board's
regular session.

Tupas cited police statistics on the proliferation of illegal drugs in
the country, pointing out that as of June 2004, there are 3.4 million
Filipino drug users, and 215 major drug syndicates.

Moreover, he noted 25 percent of elected officials "have in one way or
another benefited from their involvement in the drug trade" while 70
percent of heinous crimes filed in court are drug-related and 65
percent of prison inmates are facing drug-related cases.

Tupas referred his proposal to the committee on public order and
security headed Board Member Angel Briones and to the committee on
justice, good government and human rights chaired by Board Member
Domingo Oso.

He also asked the two committees to conduct "a thorough investigation,
in aid of legislation, on the abuse of drugs and other forms of
criminality in the province of Iloilo."

According to Tupas, he received "reliable information" that drug abuse
has reached an alarming level in the municipalities of Estancia and
Ajuy.

He urged the police chiefs of the two towns to immediately act on the
problem.

"They have no business staying in office if they cannot curb this
problem," the board member said.

Tupas also called on the Supt. Reynaldo Rafal, provincial police
director, to "immediately issue a directive to all the chiefs of
police to undertake drastic measures to stop the proliferation of
illegal drugs and other forms of criminality" in their respective
jurisdictions.

Tupas said he also received "reliable information that some elective
local officials are users of illegal drugs."

"This is very alarming. Drug addicts and pushers have no place in our
local government units," he said.

Moreover, Tupas called for the support of mayors and
vice-mayors.

He asked the mayors, through his brother, Barotac Viejo Mayor Raul
Tupas, to tap the barangay officials' assistance for the campaign.

Tupas said the anti-crime body may be composed of the following
officials: chairman, governor; vice chairman, provincial police
director; and members, provincial prosecutor, president of the mayors'
league, president of the vice mayors' league, president of the Liga ng
mga Barangay, president of the Sangguniang Kabataan; Pdea
representative, Integrated Bar of the Philippines representative, and
the respective chairpersons of the committee on appropriations,
committee on public order and security, committee on justice, good
government, and human rights.

Its enforcement arm will include the Special Law Enforcement Unit and
Information and Education Unit.