PALACE BLASTS CIA REPORT CITING RP AS TOP EXPORTER OF HEROIN

MALACANANG on Monday slammed reports released by the US Central Intelligence
Agency (CIA) saying the Philippines is among the top exporters of heroin.

"The veracity of this report has yet to be confirmed, but we must emphasize
that our sustained campaign against illegal drugs has since cut the domestic
drug trade in half," the President's spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said.

He pointed out that the government has done much to curb the illegal drugs
trade in the country and it would be unfair to ignore these efforts.

"Transnational manufacturers and distributors of illegal drugs have fallen
one by one in big raids over the past year," Bunye pointed out, adding:"We
are permanently committed to the global fight against illegal drugs and we
will work with all nations supplying information to stop the threat and
bring drug dealers to justice."

He said the government is also working with its Asian neighbors including
China in sharing information and intelligence to reduce the drug problem.

The CIA book, released in May, describes the production and distribution of
heroin as a growing concern, in addition to shabu, marijuana and hashish.

It suspects Philippine-made heroin is not only exported to other Asian
countries, but also to the United States and other Western nations.

The book also stated that the Philippines exports locally produced marijuana
and hashish to East Asia, US and other Western markets.

It also noted that the country serves as transit point for heroin and
crystal methamphetamine, and shabu production is a growing problem.