DRUG CLEARING OPERATIONS NET 1,500 IN MANILA

More than 1,500 persons were rounded up by the Western Police District
(WPD) in a series of barangay drug clearing operations in Manila before
dawn yesterday.

The operations conducted in at least six congested areas in the country's
capital were carried out by virtue of arrest and search orders issued by
different courts in Manila.

WPD director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong said the barangay clearing
operations were also in compliance with the directive of President Arroyo
to bring down the anti-illegal drug campaign of the government to the
barangay level.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr., Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director Edgar Aglipay and National Capital
Regional Police Officer (NCRPO) chief Director Ricardo de Leon helped
supervised the operations to ensure that the rights of the individuals were
not violated.

Of the 1,536 persons held for questioning, 120 individuals were picked up
from Station 4 (Sampaloc); 306 in Station 6 (Sta. Ana); 36 in Station 7
(Abad Santos); 300 in Station 8 (Sta. Mesa) and 43 in Station 10
(Pandacan). Police are now checking their records.

Most of the raids were done in squatter colonies along railroad tracks.
Reports showed illegal drugs were rampant in crowded and depressed areas.
An operative said some of those rounded up were apparently under the
influence of drugs.