PALACE YAWNS AT CIA 'RP TOP HEROIN SOURCE' REPORT

Malacanang yesterday shrugged off a report recently released by the US
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States citing the
Philippines as among the top countries which export heroin in the world.

Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye, in his regular press conference at
the Palace, said the report should not yet be taken seriously as it had yet
to be verified by the US Drug Enforcement Agency. He though underscored the
government's "successful" campaign to stem the proliferation of illegal
drugs in the country with the recent arrests of transnational manufacturers
and local distributors of illicit substances.

"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. Transnational manufacturers and distributors
of illegal drugs have fallen one by one in big raids over the past year,"
he maintained.

Bunye also said the country is continuously coordinating with its
neighbors, like China, in sharing information and intelligence against
proliferation of illegal drugs.

"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 CIA, in a report contained in its "World Factbook 2004," said the
Philippines is the top supplier of heroin, not only to countries in Asia,
but also to other western countries like the United States.

Senators who at one time acted as law enforcers yesterday also practically
expressed doubts on the CIA's claims.

Senators Alfredo Lim, Rodolfo Biazon and Panfilo Lacson expressed
reservations over the reports that was poised to again smear the country's
image to the the international community.

They, however, said there was a possibility of the Philippines serving as
transshipment point of illegal drugs, saying there was no proof to show the
country was capable of producing or manufacturing heroin.

"The country may be manufacturing shabu (metamphitamine
hydrochloride)...but I doubt the report that the we are now producing
heroin," Lacson said.

The opposition senator, who was Philippine National Police (PNP) director
general during the Estrada administration or shortly before he was elected
in 2001, debunked the branding made by the CIA.

He, along with Lim who was once National Bureau of Investigation director
and ranking police officer, and Biazon, former Armed Forces of the
Philippines chief of staff, dismissed the said possibility, collectively
saying they have not received any information that would show that heroin
is being manufactured in the Philippines for export in other countries.

Lacson said he doubts whether drug syndicates in the Philippines have the
capability to produce heroin, unlike metamphetamine hydrochloride, or
"shabu," which is prevalent in the country.

He challenged the CIA to share to the Philippine government whatever "solid
basis of information they have monitored" indicating that the country is
now producing and distributing heroin.

"I doubt it. We could be exporting shabu, not heroin," Lacson said. "So if
they have solid basis of information, why not share them to us."

Lim agreed with Lacson that there was no report whatsoever indicating that
the Philippines is producing and exporting heroin to countries in Asia,
Europe and United States.

"The country may serve as transshipment point of heroine. I don't think it
is being manufactured here," Lim said, even as he recalled that heroine in
Asia may originate from Bangkok.

"We have not received any information that we are exporting heroin," the
former NBI director stressed.

Biazon, on the other hand, urged the CIA to prove their accusation by
showing sufficient proofs.

"They have to establish this. The CIA will have to show proof of what they
are saying because heroine is not originating in the country. Probably
marijuana or even shabu, heroine is another matter," he said, noting that
heroine traditionally comes from the Middle East and Columbia in South America.

Reports said the Philippines is manufacturing for export not only shabu,
marijuana and hashish, but also heroin for export in other countries.

The United Nations, in a report last month, also tagged the Philippines as
one of the main suppliers of shabu worldwide.

Shabu is a chemically produced drug, which is categorized among so-called
"uppers," or drugs that stimulate the brain and the nervous system. It does
so by mimicking the hormone adrenaline, one of the body's natural
stimulants. Such drugs induce sleeplessness and hyperactivity.

The UN report was rejected by the Philippine government.