PNP SCORES BIG IN ANTI-DRUG WAR

DESCRIBED as the Philippine National Police's "cutting edge" in the
fight against illegal drugs, the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special
Operations Task Force marks its first year in existence with
record-setting accomplishments topped by the seizure of more than P22
billion worth of shabu and its precursors last year.

AID-SOTF commander and concurrent PNP deputy chief for administration
Deputy Director General Edgar B. Aglipay credits the accomplishment to
the full support of President Macapagal-Arroyo who has made the
campaign against drugs one of her priorities.

"It helped a lot that the President herself was in the forefront of
the fight against drugs. Because of the strong leadership of the
President as well as the invaluable support from the various sectors
of the community, we at the AID-SOTF did a great job of fighting the
drug menace," Aglipay said

The AID-SOTF chief said they have crippled more than 60 percent of
their target syndicates, particularly those involved in the mass
production of shabu or the so-called poor man's cocaine which remains
the most abused drug in the land.

Aglipay said that apart from the confiscation of P22 billion worth of
drugs, they also arrested and charged 32,762 drug offenders in court,
neutralized 239 local drug groups and cleared 5,140 drug-affected barangays.

Aglipay said they also smashed 22 clandestine shabu laboratories and
warehouses located mostly in Metro Manila, seized P250 million worth
of assets of captured drug lords and arrested 302 policemen involved
in illegal drug activities.

But Aglipay said they are not resting on their laurels and would
continue the crackdown no matter who gets hurt. He said there is a
need to further continue the crackdown and there should be no room for
complacency.

"Our past achievements should not be a reason for us to take a respite
from the war versus drugs however brief it may be. Now more than ever,
there is a need to follow up on our series of victories even as we
protect our gains," he said.

Aglipay explained that the illegal drug industry is so dynamic and
profitable that neutralized traffickers - from drug lords down to the
lowly street-level drug dealers - bounce back and become even more
dangerous once authorities relax their campaign even just a bit.

"It is therefore imperative that the AID-SOTF must continue its job
with even more urgency as all our efforts will be put to naught if we
cannot sustain the drive and deliver the killing blow to these evils
of society," he said.