RP WON'T BECOME DRUG CAPITAL

There is no reason to believe that the country will become the drug capital
of Asia because the government is undertaking a relentless campaign against
the drug menace, Local Governments Secretary Joey Lina said yesterday.

Lina, who was in Bacolod yesterday to speak at a seminar on "Excellence in
Public Service and Righteous Leadership" at L'Fisher Hotel, was reacting to
the statement of Senator Robert Barbers that the drug problem of the
Philippines is very alarming and, if not contained, the country could become
the drug capital of Asia in five years.

In the last two months an intensified campaign against illegal drugs was
launched and more than five shabu laboratories were dismantled, and almost
6,000 drugs users and possessors were arrested, Lina said.

President Arroyo has organized a revitalized Dangerous Drugs Board with an
implementing arm, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, that is in place
and very active in the campaign against illegal drugs, Lina said.

We have a P1 billion standby fund set aside by the President, the biggest
amount so far set aside by a president of the country, to fight illegal
drugs, he said.

There is also a new law, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, that
Senator Barbers helped craft that strengthens the law against illegal drugs,
he said.

The law became effective July 4, 2002 so it is just more than one year old,
he said.

"I think we have so much to show in the campaign against illegal
drugs=85There is no reason to believe we will reach the state where it will
be faced with an illegal drug problem like Colombia," he said.

He noted that in Colombia justices and high ranking officials are being
murdered with impunity by drug lords.

"Thank God we are producing results in the campaign against illegal drugs in
the country," said Lina, who chairs the Dangerous Drugs Board.

Drug testing for students will start in September, he said.

There is also drug testing for the police and military, and other law
enforcement agencies.

Those running for elective positions or who are going to be appointed to
government positions will also undergo mandatory drug testing, he said.

Almost all agencies of government are now involved in the campaign against
drugs, so I think we are on the right track, he said. "We have reason to be
hopeful and optimistic that we able to make a dent in the fight against
illegal drugs," he added.

We are pursuing the anti-drug campaign with vigor, there is no let-up in the
anti-drug campaign, he said.

Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Mara=F1on yesterday said the drug problem
should be stopped because it is disastrous to the country.

The campaign against illegal drugs needs the help of the public, he said.

Lina, in his speech at the seminar organized by the Fellowship of Christians
in Government and the Negros Association of Chief Executives, said the
answer to the problems of the country is strong and God-fearing leaders and
workers in government.

If the leader is good the organization will be good, he said. A God-fearing
leader must have a servant's heart, for leadership is servanthood as taught
by Christ, he said.

A Christian must live his faith day by day, not just mouth slogans on
Christianity, he said.

A good leader must work for prosperity, justice and democracy for his people
, things that are desirable according to God's will, he said.

"It is possible to be a Christian and stay honest in government," he
stressed.