JUDGES, PROSECUTORS, COPS WARNED ON DRUG CASES

President Arroyo yesterday vowed to expose and file charges against crooked
judges, prosecutors, and police who accept bribe money to free drug offenders.

The President issued the stern warning amid reports that several
drug-related cases have been dismissed due to technicalities.

"The bungling of drug cases on purpose can happen on any level of the
criminal justice system and we will move against law enforcers,
prosecutors, or judges who set drug offenders free in exchange for bribes,
or jailers who free them for a fee," she said in a statement.

The President directed Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief
Anselmo Avenido to keep a watch list of crooked personalities and "expose
and proceed against them as the evidence warrants."

"Maintaining the integrity of the criminal justice system is just as
important as teamwork and synergy among all its components," she said.

Arroyo said the government needs the total participation of the community
and civil society to clean up the criminal justice system.

In a related development, the President also ordered PDEA to put a stop on
the illegal practices of "sweatshop" garment factories who abet the use of
illegal drugs in their workforce.

"We will not tolerate sweatshops, and we will act very strongly against
firms employing or abetting the use of illegal drugs to keep their workers
awake and alert to the prejudice of their health," she said.

"We will treat such employers as drug pushers under the law," she said.

Arroyo tasked PDEA to work with the Department of Labor and Employment to
monitor these "unsavory practices" and impose necessary sanctions against
these employers.

Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye, in an interview with Radyo ng Bayan,
said the garment factories should be "socially-compliant" by upholding the
rights of workers to fair daily wage and good working conditions. (Genalyn
D. Kabiling)

Marikina police

The Eastern Police District (EPD), National Capital Regional Police Office
(NCRPO) reported that the Marikina City Police Station, through the support
of the city government under the administration of Mayor Ma. Lourdes C.
Fernando and Vice Mayor Marion S. Andres, registered the highest number of
anti-illegal drugs operations, totaling to 49 from June 1 to 30.

The station also registered the highest number of arrests for drug pushers,
totaling to 13 and drug users totaling to 57. The shabu confiscated totaled
to 746.598 grams with a street value of P124,142.

Sr. Supt. Felipe L. Rojas Jr., Marikina City chief of police, noted that
among the cities of Marikina, Pasig, Mandaluyong and San Juan, all under
the supervision and control of EPD, Marikina City is the least drug abuse
affected area in terms of barangays and number of pushers and users.

Marikina City Police Station also conducted the most number of anti-illegal
drugs operations and confiscated the largest quantity of "shabu."

The report was submitted to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in compliance
with her instruction to intensify anti-illegal drug operations throughout
the country. Marikina City also boosts of a rehabilitation center for its
residents as part of the demand reduction for illegal drugs in its
anti-drug campaign.

Drug test

After conducting random drug tests on top officials of the Philippine
Public Safety College (PPSC), cadets at the Philippine National Police
Academy, the country's premiere educational institution of future officers
of the national police force, also underwent the same test.

In a report to Interior and Local Government Secretary Jose Lina Jr., PPSC
acting president Ramsey Ocampo said that some 40 male and female cadets of
the PNPA took the drug test at the PNPA Grandstand supervised by the PNP
Crime Laboratory Scene of the Crime Office technicians at Camp Casta=F1eda
in Silang, Cavite.

Ocampo said that the drug tests are in full support of the Arroyo
administration's anti-drug abuse program spearheaded by the Dangerous Drugs
Board, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and other law enforcement
agencies.

"We want to see to it that PNPA cadets are drug-free, because we do not
want pushers and users to participate in the cadetship program," Ocampo said.

Ten commissioned and non-commissioned police officers assigned at the PNPA
also underwent random drug testing.

Ocampo said the drug tests would yield negative results because they have
been strict and diligent in the selection of cadets.

However, he said that he is not discounting the possibility that a cadet
may be found positive for drug use because of the semestral breaks and
temporary leaves of absence.

"Any cadet found positive for drug use shall be dismissed from the academy
and will be charged with grave misconduct," he said, adding that, "Drugs
are taboo in the academy that is why there is no room for illegal drug
users in the PNPA." Any commissioned and non-commissioned police officer
whose drug tests yield positive results will be charged before the PNP
Internal Affairs Service.