SUMMARY EXECUTIONS FOR CARAGA PUSHERS 'LIKELY'

BUTUAN CITY---An official of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)
here said it's possible that "salvagings" or summary executions of drug
traffickers may occur in the Caraga region.

"Mas maayo tingale nga sama sa ubang dapit nga atong mabalitaan nga ilang
gipangpatay ang mga nagnegosyo sa gidadiling druga, mahitabo usab na dinhi
sa atua," PDEA Caraga regional director Supt. Glenn De La Torre said. (It's
probably better if summary executions of drug dealers occur here like those
in other areas.)

His statement came after Butuan Mayor Daisy Plaza declared "all-out war"
against the drug menace. The declaration was also timed with City Hall's
burning of 700 grams of shabu and marijuana yesterday.

The burning likewise coincided with the United Nations International Day
against illegal drugs and illicit trafficking.

Plaza said illegal drug use and distribution continues despite the
aggressive anti-drug campaign waged by the city.

Meanwhile de la Torre explained that the court have decided on how to
dispose of the shabu and marijuana cache.

For his part Butuan City Police Director Sen. Supt. Edgar W. Agustin said
they will intensify their monitoring of drug pushers.

Last week, four police officers were summarily dismissed by Caraga Police
director, Chief Supt. Alberto Olario, after they tested positive for drug
use.

In another development, the PDEA and the city police here apprehended two
minors and a senior for dealing with drugs.

The names of the minors are being withheld while the third suspect is
identified as 38-year old Macacna Soma. Police took from them one kilo of
methamphetamine hydrochloride also known as shabu or ice.

Senior Insp. Martin Gamba, PDEA head, said the three were arrested in a
buy-bust operation.

Supt. Jessie Castro, head of the Central Police Precinct, said drug
syndicates use youths to peddle their drugs.

Castro said because of this they are now focusing their campaign on high
schools and colleges.