NEW PANGASINAN COP CHIEF VOWS WAR ON DRUGS

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan - Senior Supt. Mario Sandiego has taken over as the new
police provincial director of Pangasinan, with a vow to support fully the
ongoing campaign of the Arroyo administration against illegal drugs.

"Let us be vigilant and let us cooperate to solve the various crimes that
hamper peace and development in our province," Sandiego said during the
turnover ceremonies held in this capital town.

The turnover was witnessed by provincial leaders, headed by Gov. Victor
Agbayani, town and city mayors, as well as the 46 municipal and city police
chiefs in the province.

Sandiego replaced Senior Supt. Dominador Mendoza, who acted as officer in
charge of the Pangasinan police provincial command.

Sandiego, a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class '77, said he
would focus on campaign against all forms of crimes, particularly in the war
against illegal drugs as ordered by President Arroyo.

"The war against illegal drugs will be my first priority," he said in
English and Filipino during his speech. "Illegal drugs are to blame not only
for the rise in the crime rate nationwide, but also in destroying the future
of millions of young Filipinos."

He sought the help of local officials and concerned citizens to stamp out
the threat posed to the province by drug lords and dealers.

Sandiego said this would help hasten the campaign to bring peace and order
in Pangasinan.

Before his assignment to Pangasinan, Sandiego served as the provincial
police director of Tarlac for one year.

Prior to that, he also served as chief of the PNP Criminal Investigation and
Detection Group in La Union and the Cordillera Administrative Region.