ARROYO: ANTI-NARCOTICS UNITS 'TAINTED'

President Arroyo Monday admitted that the anti-narcotics units of the PNP,
from the station up to the district level as well as other special teams,
are "tainted."

Arroyo made the admission in a written statement even as she reiterated
that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is the sole "point of
operational authority and accountability" in the government's anti-drug
campaign.

The President said government has reviewed the performance of various drug
enforcement units and "it has turned out that anti-narcotics units of
stations, district officers, and other PNP units are tainted."

She said the two most notorious practices of these "tainted" units are
turning arrested drug pushers and traffickers into milking cows and
reselling seized illegal drugs.

"We will stop these practices to enforce basic discipline and lawful
conduct at the ground level. Then we will take on the sham drug tests that
enable drug users to operate motor vehicles and pose a threat to public
safety," she added.

Arroyo on Friday ordered the transfer from the Land Transportation Office
to the health department the responsibility of conducting mandatory drug
tests prior to the issuance of a driver's license. She said the health
department will review the process and see how the cost of testing could be
lowered.

Arroyo said the "sustained pressure" must be applied on the tainted
anti-drug units because "these violations lie at the most elemental levels
of demand and supply curtailment."

She said the PDEA would "enforce our disciplinary policies strictly and
evenly, without fear or favor The PDEA will see to it that these reforms
are pursued to their logical conclusion."

But presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye said even if the President,
herself, admitted that some anti-narcotics units are tainted, they will not
be abolished.

"Under the operational setup, the PDEA is the lead agency. But I don't
think this will result in the abolition of certain units. So, what is
called for is close coordination of these units with PDEA," Bunye said.

He dismissed the possibility that some PDEA members may have been
"tainted," saying those assigned to the agency command a "high level of
trust as far as the President is concerned."

He said it is up to PDEA director general Anselmo Avenido to discipline his
people.

Bunye said the "Four Aces" could still join the anti-drug campaign but
their involvement would be limited to advisory roles, except for former
police colonel Reynaldo Jaylo, who would be appointed as PDEA director. He
said all operations must be coordinated with PDEA.

He said Sen. Robert Barbers still plays a key role in the anti-narcotics
drive because of his oversight function as chairman of the Senate oversight
committee on illegal drugs.

"Right from the start ay sinasabi natin na merong ahensya na meron talagang
legal mandate, at iyan iyung PDEA. At itong mandate na ito, hindi natin
mababago ito hangga't hindi natin binabago iyung batas. We don't see any
reason at this point why we have to come up with another agency or another
group that will be given the mandate to pursue the anti-drug operations. So
we have to live with what is existing under the law," he said.

Bunye dismissed reports that Barbers and former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim
were elbowed out of the anti-drugs campaign because Barbers agreed to
reconcile with Sen. Panfilo Lacson while Lim has issued a statement that he
does not believe Lacson is involved in drugs.

"I believe these reports have nothing to do whatsoever with the present
arrangements as far as pursuing the anti-drug operations. It was made clear
during the command conference over the weekend that we have laws that
(have) established the policy-making body and enforcement arms...Now all
other speculations, all other talks actually have no bearing on what's
decided in the manner of pursuing the anti-drug campaign," he said.