DRUG TRADE REPORT IN SCHOOLS 'EXAGGERATED'

THE chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the
Cordilleras Wednesday described as "exaggerated" a news report that
University of Baguio students are buying almost a kilo of shabu a week from
pushers.

Supt. Danilo Flordeliza, PDEA-CAR director, said the informant of the
National Police Comission (Napolcom) could have also been misquoted by
reporters of national dailies.

But he admitted there are indeed college students in Baguio who are engaged
in illegal drug trade. "But they are not necessarily students of UB."

"I also cannot discount the fact that some ranking PNP officials are behind
the illegal drug trade," Flordeliza stressed.

On Tuesday, Councilor Federico Mandapat Jr. urged the PDEA-CAR to look into
the veracity of reports about shabu trade at UB and within the city's
university belt.

Mandapat expressed alarm over the report that said that UB students are
regular clients of drug syndicates being coddled by some high-ranking
police officials.

A Napolcom informant revealed that if a drug test would be conducted at UB,
very few students would pass.

UB President Virgilio Bautista condemned the report, saying the informant
could have mentioned "universities in Baguio" but was reported as
University of Baguio.

"I cannot also imagine that the Baguio police or the PDEA-CAR would believe
that students are buying one kilo shabu a week. It is next to impossible.
The authorities could have reported it to our attention," he added.
"Besides, the revelation of the informant remains invalid as far as we are
concern."