RP SEEKS US SUPPORT IN WAR VS ILLEGAL DRUGS

THE DANGEROUS Drugs Board of the Philippines has asked the United States
Drug Enforcement Administration for more technical support in its fight
against illegal drugs.

Justice Undersecretary and DDB Executive Director Jose Calida made the
appeal as he spoke before USDEA, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
representatives and the first batch of graduates who attended a five-day
seminar on Clandestine Laboratory Site Safety.

Calida said USDEA's technical support in accurate drug identification,
technically advanced investigation of drug cases and the use of technical
knowledge on illegal drug matters would boost the government's effort
against illegal drugs. He said the Philippines has a lot to learn from the
USDEA but also noted the peculiarity in the country's experience on illegal
drugs.

"It is this peculiarity of the Philippine experience that makes some of our
drugs cases unique and the responses to peculiar incidents demands local
knowledge," Calida said.

Calida added that support should also include employable anti-drug
strategies and tactics against drug lords and traffickers.

"We should learn to find 'em, fool 'em, fight 'em and finish 'em," Calida said.

The five-day seminar, which opened on June 28 at the PDEA Academy in Quezon
City, was sponsored by the USDEA. It was attended by PDEA and National
Bureau of Investigation agents, Philippine National Police Crime Laboratory
personnel, PNP-Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force operatives
and members of the Presidential Security Group.