RP, CHINA AGREE ON ACTION PLAN AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS

The campaign against illegal drugs in the country has received a big
boost with the signing of a program of action or "operational
guidelines" on the prevention and control of illegal drug trafficking
by the Philippines and the People's Republic of China, Interior and
Local Government Secretary and Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Joey
Lina Jr. said yesterday.

Lina said he met this week with Public Security Minister and State
Councilor Zhou Yongkang of the People's Republic of China on the
implementation of a memorandum of understanding signed by the two
countries for Cooperation against Illicit Traffic and Abuse of
Narcotic Drugs, Psychotic Substances, and Precursor Chemicals.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Blas F. Ople said the agreement spells out
the operational level arrangements of the bilateral agreement signed
between the two countries in 2001 during President Gloria Macapagal
Arroyo's official state visit to China.

Ople added that closer cooperation between Philippine and Chinese law
enforcers will aid the ongoing campaign to neutralize and prosecute
drugs syndicates in the country.

"The implementation of this agreement is a key practical area of
cooperation between the two sides and further widens our common ground
with the People's Republic of China," Ople said.

Ople noted China's successful anti-drug campaign within its borders
and in transborder cooperation with its neighbors like Vietnam,
Thailand, and Myanmar.

He said that the more organized operations with China will help
Philippine authorities in cracking down against smuggling and drug
trafficking in the Philippines.With these operational guidelines
between the two countries, it will now be much easier and faster to
identify and arrest those involved in illegal drug trade in the
country as well as the investigation of drug-related cases, he said.

It will also be easier to identify sources of chemicals and precursors
used in the manufacture of shabu and other illegal drugs.

The agreement promotes and encourages various modes of cooperation to
effectively prevent and control the various aspects of illicit
production, distribution, trafficking, and abuse of narcotic drugs and
psychotropic substances and the diversion of precursors and essential
chemicals used in the manufacture of narcotic drugs and/or
psychotropic substances.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Anselmo
Avenido and PROC Bureau of Narcotics Control (BNC) Director- General
Yang Fengrui signed the document called "Terms of Reference" (TOR)
containing the program of action for the participation in
investigation and controlled delivery of illegal drug
trafficking.

Avenido met with China's MPS Drugs Control Bureau to discuss how to
conduct joint information exchange, investigations, and controlled
delivery operations.

Reports show that chemicals and precursors used in the manufacture of
illegal drugs confiscated by the PDEA and the Philippine National
Police (PNP) in recent months mostly came from China, particularly
from Guandong and Fujan provinces, Lina said.

Records also showed that from June 19 to July 30 this year, the PDEA
and other law enforcement agencies arrested 33 drug personalities
considered as "big fishes" in the illegal drugs trade in country, and
12 of the arrested suspects are Chinese nationals.

The DILG chief said that aside from the signing of the agreement on
the terms of reference for participation in investigation and
controlled delivery; the visit also resulted in the adoption of the
mechanisms for the implementation of the agreement by enhancing
information exchange and surveillance, monitoring and response
capability of the two countries.

Acommunication flowchart will guide both countries in implementing the
program of action, he added.

Other activities included in the program of action adopted by the two
countries are the designation of drug enforcement attache and/or
liaison officers; conduct of exchange programs and workshops; sharing
of best practices in interdiction, investigation, antimoney
laundering, prosecution, and laws of both countries; identification
and targeting of major drug trafficking organizations, and conduct of
controlled delivery operations.

Any request for participation in investigation and controlled delivery
shall be coursed through the PDEA and the BNC. Such activities shall
be conducted to gather evidence, identify suspects, international and
local drug criminal organizations, determine the source of drugs, and
analyze the modus operandi of illegal drug trafficking.

The agreement also provides that foreign participationof law
enforcement officers involved in these operations will be under the
jurisdiction of the host country and, in no instance, shall operate
independently during the investigation.