BARANGAYS ASKED TO HELP STOP STREET-LEVEL DRUG OPERATIONS

President Arroyo rallied Metro Manila barangay officials yesterday to
assist the government's efforts to eliminate syndicated and
street-level illegal drug operations in their communities.

The President mobilized more than 17,000 officials and members of the
Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC) in Metro Manila in the
intensified "barangay clearing operations," the second phase of her
government's all-out war against illicit drugs.

Arroyo vowed that there will be no sacred cows in the renewed campaign
against drugs as she directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) to
unmask and arrest big-time drug lords and their patrons in government.

"Walang arbor-arbor. Walang prote-proteksyon, walang sinuman na
sinasanto ang laban na ito. Ang lahat ng sangkot ay mananagot," she
said in her speech before the antidrug councils at the Araneta
Coliseum in Cubao.

She also directed PNP chief Director General Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. to
purge its ranks of drug coddlers to restore public trust in the
government institution.

Instead of ordinary reshuffle in the PNP, Arroyo tasked Ebdane to
dismiss and prosecute those officials involved in illegal drug use and
operations.

In bringing the anti-drug war in the barangay levels, Arroyo said the
government can only declare victory in the war against drugs if there
are no more illegal substance in the streets.

"Pangunahin natin ang laban ng salot na illegal na droga sa lahat ng
sulok ng ating bayan, lahat ng sulok ng inyong mga barangay, lahat ng
tahanan, lahat ng kalye, lahat ng pamayanan, lahat ng sulok ng
barangay huwag tayong tumigil hanggat patuloy ang paglalaganap ng
salot na ito," she said.

Arroyol enlisted the support of the anti-drug abuse barangay councils
in reporting to law enforcement authorities suspected drug dealers,
pushers, and users as well as the location of any illicit drug
laboratory in their communities.

Since members of the anti-drug abuse council belong to various
sectors, Arroyo said the council can be an effective vehicle in the
conduct of massive education and information campaign on the
ill-effects of illegal drugs.

Arroyo said she will not allow the Filipino youth to be destroyed by
the drug menace. "Hindi ako papayag na mayurakan ang sambayanan. Kaya
tayo mga leader ng barangay, lalaban tayo para sa kinabukasan."

She commended the police and local government units for the
intensified efforts in the anti-drug campaign in Metro Manila
following reports of successful drug bust operations and the arrest of
drug pushers and users.

The government is aiming for a drug-free Metro Manila by next year.
There are 1,693 barangays in Metro Manila.

The President has launched a high-profile campaign against illegal
drugs early this year amid reports of increasing number of drug
addicts in the country.

She has set aside at least P1 billion as standby fund for the
operations of anti-drug enforcement units.

At present, Secretary Jose Lina is the chairman of the Dangerous Drugs
Board while retired Gen. Anselmo Avenido heads the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency. (GDK)

Guidelines

Interior and Local Government Secretary and Dangerous Drugs Board
OIC-Chairman Jose Lina Jr. yesterday issued guidelines in the conduct
of clearing operations in drug-affected barangays during the Barangay
Anti-Drug Abuse Committee Congress held at the Araneta Coliseum in
Quezon City.

Lina issued the guidelines in line with President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo's commitment to sustain the intensified campaign
against illegal drugs, particularly at the barangay level.

Records at the PNP showed that as of Sept. 16, out of the country's
41,956 barangays, 5,997 are drug-affected , and 2,549 have been
cleared. In Metro Manila, out of the total 1,693 barangays, 1,061 are
drug affected, and 430 have been declared drug free, Lina said.

Under the guidelines, Lina explained that the process of clearing drug
affected barangay involves a series of activities to be undertaken in
phases, by the anti-drug abuse committees at the provincial, city,
municipal and barangay levels, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
(PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

He added that the first phase which is the preparation phase shall
involve activities necessary to lay the groundwork for an effective
barangay clearing operations to be implemented by the DILG, PDEA, PNP,
and the concerned local government units.

Such activities include: organization of house clusters, streets,
villages, puroks, sitios as well as sectoral organizations to assist
BADACs in monitoring illegal drug activities; determination of
priority drug affected areas and personalities for clearing operation;
establishment of one-stop processing desks for the rehabilitation of
drug dependents by the city and municipal anti-drug committees; and
enactment of city or municipal ordinances creating administrative
boards to hear and act on complaints regarding public nuisances, among
others.

Lina said, under the clearing phases, the BADACs and law enforcement
units concerned shall implement the following activities:
administrative searches of suspected drug dens in coordination with
city or municipal regulatory officers; arrest of drug pushers through
citizen's arrest, buy-bust operations, and service of search warrants
and warrants of arrest; processing of referrals for voluntary
rehabilitation of drug dependents; counseling of drug experimeters and
casual users o n the ill effects of dangerous drugs; and filing of
complaints of public nuisances with the city/municipal administrative
boards against places or premises uses as sites for unlawful sale or
delivery of dangerous drugs.

The last phase, which is the empowerment phase, involves the
mobilization of house cluster, street, village, purok and sitio as
well as sectoral organizations to maintain the drug-free status of the
barangay; and the implementation of support activities such as
livelihood, sports, religious, and social activities in coordination
with non-government organizations, he added. (RN)

Arroyo to Davao

After visiting urban poor communities in Metro Manila in the past
weeks, President Arroyo embarks today on a three-day visit to the
Davao provinces and Cagayan de Oro to check on the development
programs there.

After a brief respite this All Saints Day weekend, the President will
resume her provincial trips starting with Bohol and Leyte provinces
next week.

Malacanang immediately dismissed insinuations that the frequent
out-oftown trips of President Arroyo are part of her early campaign
trail to boost her chances in the 2004 presidential elections.

Accompanied by a handful of Cabinet members, the President leaves this
morning for Mati Airport in Davao Oriental.

She will attend the centennial anniversary celebration of Mati at the
Mati Sports Complex and later motor to Davao City to grace the
inauguration of Bago Oshiro Rehabilitation Center for drug dependents.

The President has launched an intensified campaign against illegal
drugs early this year following the increase of drug dependents in the
country.

At 4 p.m., the President will attend the launch of the Central
Communications Emergency Response Center in Davao City.

She will later address various sectoral groups at the nearby Freedom
Park in San Pedro Street to rally support for her administration.

Local government officials will host tonight a dinner for the
President and her part at the Marco Polo Hotel.

On Thursday, the President will preside the 12th National Anti-Poverty
Commission (NAPC) meeting at the Marco Polo Hotel.

After attending the inauguration of the Buhangin underpass, she will
attend the Mindanao Indigenous People summit at the Waterfront Insular
Hotel in the afternoon.

On Friday morning, the President will fly out to Tagoloan, Misamis
Oriental, to join the 12th Mindanao Business Conference.

Before returning to Manila, she will inspect the port expansion
project in Cagayan de Oro City.

On November 1, the President will pay her respects to her father, the
late President Diosdado Macapagal, at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in
Fort Bonifacio, Makati City.

The President is expected to resume her provincial tour, this time in
Bohol, Tacloban City and Leyte province on Nov. 4.

She will receive the president of Kazakstan on Nov. 10-12 and the
president of Ukraine on Nov. 23 and 24 as state guests.

Release of bonus

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo announced yesterday that all
government workers may now gladly look forward to the immediate
release of the remaining 50 percent of their year-end Christmas bonus
and cash gift starting Nov. 16.

The Presidents' announcement conveyed by Budget Secretary Emilia
Boncodin signals the immediate release of some P8.5 billion that has
already been earmarked under this year's General Appropriations Act
(GAA) for such purpose.

"We want to make sure that government workers will receive their
Christmas bonus and cash gift to give them ample time to prepare for
the coming holidays," Boncodin said in an official Malacanang
statement released yesterday.