PDEA CONFIRMS PRESENCE OF TWO DRUG LORDS IN THE CITY

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11 chief Superintendent Wilkins
Villanueva confirmed yesterday the presence of two drug lords in Davao
City. Guesting in yesterday's Ugnayan sa Royal Mandaya Hotel, Villanueva
said the two are still in the city but authorities are having a hard time
pinning them down because they have yet to gather concrete evidence against
them.

"Ito nga ang problema natin ngayon (This is our present problem). One of
the right move is financial investigation," he said.

Villanueva cited the Anti-Money Laundering Law and the Comprehensive
Dangerous Drugs Act as very important laws the authorities could use to
clamp down on drug lords.

He said he will soon make use of some PDEA personnel who have gone on
schooling abroad on financial investigation. "We will be using them here.
Mas maganda talaga yong nag-aaral talaga nyan," he said.

Villanueva said the Philippine National Police (PNP) along with PDEA has
trained their guns on illegal drug syndicates.

"From the President down to the lowest level of PDEA and PNP, iisa lang ang
pinag-uusapan ngayon sustained and enhanced campaign on illegal drugs," he
said.

In fact, he and Sr. Superintendent Conrado Laza of the Davao City Police
Office Tuesday led spray painting on houses of alleged suspected drug
pushers, a campaign once used by former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. (PIA)