GUINGONA WARNS VS VIGILANTISM IN NATIONWIDE DRIVE ON DRUGS

Vice President Teofisto Guingona Jr. said yesterday he supports the moves
of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine
National Police (PNP) in "waging a forceful campaign against drug
trafficking, but all of these efforts should remain within the limits of
our Constitution and with due regards to the rights of all our citizens."

Guingona issued the reminder as he expressed alarm over the disturbing and
increasing number of apparent summary executions of alleged drug pushers or
drug syndicate elements in various parts of Metro Manila and in Davao City.

"We urge the PDEA and PNP to also move against the possible resurgence of
vigilantism. We cannot allow our society to slide into anarchy with
self-styled executioners, however motivated, taking the law into their own
hands and committing murder in the guise of dispensing justice against
suspected criminal elements," the Vice President said.

Guingona issued the appeal following the discovery yesterday of at least
three unidentified bodies in Quezon City which bore signs that the victims,
two women and a man, were "salvaged" (summarily executed) with tags
labeling them as pushers of the illegal drug shabu.

The killings followed similar incidents in recent days in other areas in
Metro Manila. Earlier in Davao City, several former policemen were shot and
killed by motorcycle riding gunmen, just days after being identified by a
ranking city official as being involved in drug trafficking activities.

The Vice President made clear that while he fully supported the intensified
operations against drug syndicates, "we cannot allow the use of Martial
Law-era tactics or the resurgence of vigilantism against suspected criminal
elements."

"All our law enforcers should listen well to the national leadership's
warning that it will not tolerate abuses in the conduct of the anti-drug
campaign and such unacceptable and outlawed actions certainly include the
violation of the civil rights of suspects," Guingona said.

"The PDEA and PNP, as lead institutions in the anti-drug abuse campaign,
should immediately address complaints and incessant reports in the media of
civilian elements and even misguided officers of the law being supporters
or even members of vigilante groups," Guingona said.

"Action must also be taken to track down and stop the activities of
vigilantes," the vice president said.

Loren

Senate Majority Leader Loren Legarda proposed yesterday the establishment
of a maximum security storage facility for seized illegal drugs that have
to be kept as evidence in support of court cases against syndicates and
pushers.

Saying that the problem of drugs being recycled back into the market have
long been exposed, Legarda said the drug storage facility she envisioned
should be manned by a security detail whose members are rotated regularly,
equipped with security cameras, and have entry and exit points guarded by
drug-sniffing dogs.

At the same time, Legarda warned that the suggestion by the Volunteers
Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) to lace seized drugs with poison could
backfire.

"What if seized illegal drugs still find their way to the market despite
their being poisoned? Many will surely die. We must always remember that
drug dependents are themselves victims, and should be given a chance to be
rehabilitated," she said.

"Let's not forget that our enemy are the drug syndicates and pushers and
their protectors in government."

The senator found the suggestion a mere "novelty" but added there is an
existing law covering seized illegal drugs and that it has to be followed
to the letter.

"I think the problem lies more on the safekeeping of confiscated drugs.
Unlike prisoners who can bolt out of jail with or without the help of
consorting prison guards, confiscated drugs do not have legs that enable
them to walk out of their supposedly secured storage facility," Legarda
stressed.

"Law enforcers are always to blame every time confiscated drugs are
recycled," she added. (MBC)

Tech transfer

The technology of manufacturing shabu (methampethamine hydrochloride) had
already been transferred to some local inmates at the national penitentiary
in Muntinlupa City by convicted foreign drug traffickers.

This was disclosed by a top executive of one of the government's anti-drug
bodies, as insiders at the New Bilibid Prisons (NBP) also revealed that
illegal drugs, particularly shabu, began to proliferate in the national
penitentiary in 1994.

According to a senior police officer, they have received information that
the technology of manufacturing shabu had been transferred to inmates, this
amid reports of the existence of a shabu laboratory in the NBP.

According to the officer, while NBP officials have plans to transfer
foreign drug traffickers to the different penal colonies in the country in
an attempt to prevent them from pursuing their illegal trade, some of the
local inmates, however, had already been taught how to cook shabu.

"Parang nagkaron na ng franchising (It had been franchised)," he even said
in jest.

Meanwhile, insiders at the NBP said that shabu began to enter and
proliferate in the national penitentiary in 1994 following the conviction
of drug traffickers and under the control of a corrupt commander of guards.

It was learned that shabu enters the maximum security compound through
visitors using Gates 1 and 4, while the bigger volume of the prohibited
drugs is sneaked in through the post tower under the watch of jailguards
who have been bribed.

The NBP insiders further disclosed that lately, kilos of shabu were
allegedly brought in concealed in a small container attached to a
motorcycles similar to ones being used in mail or pizza deliveries. The
motorcycle is allegedly driven by a jailguard licensed to enter the
facility without the need to undergo search and with the consent of higher
officers.

Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), however, could not estimate the value of
shabu being brought into the national penitentiary on a regular basis.

At present, there are more than 300 felons convicted of drug trafficking, a
heinous crime punishable by death. Not one of them had been subjected to
the lethal injection, unfortunately.

"Maybe because they have their millions, enough to lobby congressmen," the
NBP sources said. (Elena L. Aben)

Dismissal

Based on the results of the confirmatory drug tests, the Philippine
National Police (PNP) has initiated summary dismissal proceedings against
12 personnel confirmed positive as drug users.

In the report submitted to PNP chief Director General Hermogenes E. Ebdane
Jr. by PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Deputy Director General Edgar B.
Aglipay, concurrently head of the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations
Task Force (AID-SOTF), the results of the PNP Crime Laboratory confirmatory
testing validated the initial findings of the June 9 random drug testing
conducted at the PNP national headquarters in Camp Crame and the National
Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO).

The 12 personnel confirmed positive for drug residue in the urine are:

Chief Inspector Roberto M. Gabor, Aviation Security Group; SPO1 Rolando B.
Cabangunay, NCRPO; PO3 Manuel L. Javier, Special Action Force; PO3 June B.
Fabros, Special Action Force; PO3 Joselito II Salvanera, Headquarters
Support Group, NCRPO; PO2 Enrique C. delos Santos Jr., Special Action
Force; PO2 Marvin L Salazar, Logistics Support Service; PO2 Cornelio M. de
la Ysla Jr., District Support Unit, NCRPO; PO1 Pedro C. Avenlino Jr.,
Eastern Police District Office Police Station 1; PO1 Joselito I. Sablay,
Western Police District Office Police Station 7; PO1 Joseph C. Apuan,
Traffic Management Group; and PO1 Jose P de la Cruz, Nueva Ecija PNP
Provincial Office. (Roy C. Sinfuego)

Napolcom

As the Philippine National Police (PNP) waged an all-out war against the
illegal drug trade, the National Police Commission (Napolcom) announced the
creation of a special operations group (SOG) which will also go after
officers and men of the PNP who may be involved in illegal drugs, those who
deliberately fail to attend case hearings, and indolent lawmen assigned at
drug enforcement units (DEU).

This was disclosed by Napolcom Commissioner Miguel Coronel, a retired
general and former executive director of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

"We can help the National Police Anti-Drug Force and the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency by concentrating on policemen involved in illegal drugs
like those milking drug traffickers and reselling seized drugs," Coronel, a
staunch anti-drug advocate, said.

He said that if the PNP has personnel assigned specifically to go after
those engaged in the drug trade, the Napolcom, on the other hand, will
utilize personnel of the Commission's Inspection Monitoring and
Investigation Service (IMIS) to handle the operation against these
"tainted" policemen.

Part of the role that will be played by the Napolcom-SOG would be to
conduct inspections at police station level and check on the activities of
the DEUs.

Coronel noted that "there are times when DEU elements would conduct raid,
nab suspects, jail them for several houses or days, and free them in
exchange for some amount."

"They call this in local parlance bangketa," Coronel, author of several
books on peace and order and an expert on the country's drug problems said.
(Elena L. Aben)

Appeal

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo yesterday appealed to the political
opposition to rally behind the government's drive against illegal drugs,
saying partisan politics should not get in the way of the anti-drug campaign.

"If any member of the opposition has any evidence or actionable
intelligence information on drug lords, ask that these be submitted
forthwith to the PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency)," she said in
speech in Tagum, Davao Oriental.

The President made the appeal after the opposition accused her government
of launching the cracdown against drugs to malign Sen. Panfilo Lacson
before the 2004 presidential elections.

"We have no room for squabbling and grandstanding. We will accomodate the
counsel and assistance of those who can move the campaign forward on the
basis of teamwork, integrity, experience, and results," she said.

Arroyo yesterday joined the celebration of the 36th founding anniversary of
the creation of the three Davao provinces. She is scheduled to preside over
a command conference on the campaign on illegal drugs in Marawi City today
before returning to Manila.

Arroyo, at the same time, directed PDEA chief Anselmo Avenido to keep a
scorecard for an effective merit system of police officers enforcing the
anti-narcotics campaign.

"We will accord immediate professional recognition and prestige to police
officers who demonstrate courage, honesty, and devotion to duty in the
fight versus drugs," she said.

Her spokesman, Ignacio Bunye, said the performance of the anti-drug units
will be used as yardstick for their promotion and recognition. (Genalyn D.
Kabiling)

Drilon

Concerned about reports of "recycled" drugs flooding the illegal drugs
market, Senate President Franklin M. Drilon formally filed yesterday a
resolution directing the Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs
to look into the disposition of confiscated or seized dangerous drugs.

Proposed Senate Resolution 634 directs the Senate committee to conduct an
inquiry on the compliance with the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9165
(Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) on the disposition of
confiscated drugs given reports that confiscated drugs are being recycled
back into the market.

"The provisions of the law (RA 9165) are very specific on the burning and
destruction of confiscated or seized drugs, including the instruments,
paraphernalia, and or laboratory equipment," Drilon said.

"These provisions were placed there precisely to avoid recycling of
confiscated drugs back into the market," the Senate chief said.

Asked as to what is the procedure on the custody and disposition of
confiscated drugs and paraphernalia, Drilon pointed out Section 21 of RA 9165.

Under this provision, Drilon said the arresting team must first inventory
and photograph the seized or confiscated drugs.

Within 24 hours upon confiscation, the drugs will be submitted to the
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) forensic laboratory for a
qualitative and quantitative examination.

After the filing of the criminal case, the court where the case is filed
will inspect the confiscated drugs within 72 hours.

"Within 24 hours after the inspection, the court, through the PDEA,
willproceed with the destruction or burning of the drugs," Drilon clarified.

"This destruction or burning will have to be done in the presence of the
accused, a representative from the media, and the Department of Health
(DoH), civil society groups, and any elected public official," Drilon added.

Drilon stressed that a representative sample, duly weighed and recorded,
shall be retained to be presented as evidence in court.

"There are also reports that the last time confiscated drugs were
incinerated was eight months ago," Drilon said. "The government is waging a
war against the drug menace and the law is there to be enforced."

The PDEA, as stated in the resolution, must submit to the Senate a
comprehensive report on the number of kilos of illegal drugs the agency has
confiscated and how many kilos have been burned to determine whether
illegal drugs have been recycled. (MBC)

Livelihood

MAGALANG, Pampanga - The Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC)
yesterday joined the efforts against the problem of illegal drugs by
offering livelihood opportunities to drug users who undergo rehabilitation.

This was announced in a visit of TLRC Director General Federico A. Laxa to
the Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center (CLDRC) here.

TLRC, known for its livelihood training courses, will run various
livelihood training programs in the facility, one of the largest in the
country housing over 1,000 drug patients at any one time.

Patients of the center will be taught business know-how that they can use
to start their own businesses when they leave the facility.

Aside from the training, TLRC will also provide financial support to
qualified small, home-based businesses.

"The problem of drug addiction does not stop at rehabilitation of the drug
users and arrest of the pushers. Patients need to be reintegrated into the
community. When they go out of the facility with no productive pursuit,
there are more chances that they will slip back into their old activities
and old lifestyle, pushing and using illegal drugs," Laxa said.