306 COPS UNDERGO DRUG TESTS

At least 306 policemen in Metro Manila underwent a surprise drug test at
Camp Crame yesterday as officials launched a renewed crackdown on lawmen
involved in illegal drugs. Deputy Director General Edgar B.Aglipay,
commander of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force of the
Philippine National Police, said policemen who would test positive for
substance abuse will be immediately relieved from their duties and
subjected to investigation.

Aglipay, along with National Capital Region Police Office chief Director
Ricardo F. de Leon and NCRPO deputy director Chief Supt. Rodolfo A. Tor
supervised the drug testing which started at 6 a.m.

Both Aglipay and De Leon said a massive reorganization of NCRPO
anti-narcotics units looms amid reports that more police officers are
involved in "bangketa'" operations and drug protection racket.

Aglipay also urged the public to report to their hotline no. 722-1018 any
policeman who is involved in illegal drug operations.

He said there will be a uniform identification card for all AID-SOTF
personnel in Metro Manila starting next week. The number of anti-narcotics
policemen assigned in every unit will also be trimmed down to seven.

"Through the ID, we can readily identify the policemen who are into illegal
drug operations. The public can also report to us those who are conducting
unauthorized anti-narcotics operations since only those with AID-SOTF IDs
would be allowed to make such operations," Aglipay said.

The official said the crackdown on policemen involved in illegal drug
activities was revived amid increasing complaints from the public.

National Anti-Kidnapping Task Force chief Angelo T. Reyes said they will
help in the campaign to ferret out soldiers and policemen involved in
illegal drug activities, including drug trafficking.

Officials have disclosed that a number of corrupt policemen have turned
into drug traffickers and users. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the
officials said reports say that some policemen have turned illegal drug
trafficking into a lucrative protection racket similar to that in jueteng.

The People's Journal learned that in most cases, these erring policemen
would pick up suspected drug traffickers and threaten them with
non-bailable charges.

"Ang ginagawa ng ibang mga abusadong pulis, huhuli lang sila ng target
kahit na walang ebidensiyang shabu. Pagkatapos ay tatakutin nila na
kakasuhan kung hindi magbibigay. 'Pag pumayag sa kagustuhan nila, kasunod
nito ay weekly protection racket na, " said a former official of the
defunct Narcotics Group.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chair Undersecretary Anselmo S. Avenido
Jr. said "planting of evidence" is a non-bailable offense punishable by death.

"Our law enforcers should know that the law is very strict on this
particular offense. It was created practically to stop the practice of
planting evidence on suspects whether they are innocent or not," Avenido said.