PDEA NORTHERN MINDANAO TO MONITOR STUDIES ON DRUG LINKS

Agency Talks To Students With Knowledge On Drug Trade

THE Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Northern Mindanao
will be conducting "interviews" with students who are believed linked
with the illegal drugs trade in their campuses.

The move was raised during the local anti-drug agency's Wednesday
celebration of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit
Trafficking (IDADAIT).

In an interview with Sun.Star Cagayan de Oro Wednesday, PDEA Regional
Director Rolando Bade disclosed that they will be intensifying their
anti-illegal drugs campaign in the different educational institutions
in the region.

This will involve undertaking activities that will further widen their
network and links with school administrators and their security
officers even down to the students themselves.

The anti-illegal drugs czar said they initiated "interviews" with
students who they believe are either involved in the illegal drugs
trade or can help them solve drug-related problems even outside of
their respective schools.

"And so far, these interviews that we had with our young students have
yielded results," he said in Filipino.

Bade elaborated on how they coordinated with school officials and
their security personnel.

The coordination involves identifying students who may be into or have
some knowledge about the illegal drugs trade in their campuses.
"During our interviews, we tell them that if they are involved it is
best for them to stop and so far many did," he said.

"Some of the students we interviewed even gave us information on other
students or individuals outside their schools who are involved in
these illegal drugs trade."

Bade voiced hopes that school administrators and their security
personnel would immediately call them for any illegal drugs related
incident that they may be facing.

"No matter how small, we hope they will not hesitate to call on us. I
will even give them my cellphone number so that they can reach me
anytime," he said.

Meanwhile, PDEA on Wednesday joined the nationwide celebration of the
international day against drug abuse.

Such activity finds basis under the 1987 United Nations General
Assembly and Presidential Proclamation 264 declaring June 26 of every
year as the commemoration of the day.

Bade said they held drug related activities that include: Slogan
Making Contest, Poster Making Contest, Posting of Streamers, Radio/TV
Guesting, Photo Exhibits, Symposia, Burning of Drug Evidence, Essay
Writing Contest and other related activities.