JAPANESE COPS IN TOWN TO BACK ANTI-DRUG DRIVE

THREE Japanese police officers arrived in Cebu yesterday to help the
Philippine National Police (PNP) in its fight against illegal drugs in the
country.

They are Police Inspector Yuji Yanagisawa of the Tokyo firearms and drug
enforcement division, Inspector Shinji Kobayashi of the Osaka International
Chemical Investigation Division, and Dr. Takayaki Shibayama of the Research
Institute of Scientific Chemical Investigation of Kagawa, Japan.

They were welcomed by Senior Supt. Robelito Comilang of the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA 7) and PDEA legal consultant Clarence Paul Oaminal.

The Japanese policemen said they are coordinating with international
agencies in the fight against illegal drugs under the auspices of Japan
International Cooperation Agency (Jica).

They said their expertise on drug detection, prevention and solution can be
of big help to the PNP in the anti-illegal drug campaign in the Philippines.

There are several airline flights between Japan-Mactan and Japan-Manila,
thus maintaining good business relations.

This time, Yuji said, the two countries want to coordinate in crime
solutions and prevention, especially that there are also thousands of
Filipinos in Japan, and Japanese in the Philippines.

The Japanese police and the PNP are holding series of seminars about illegal
drugs and visit the different drug rehabilitation centers in the country up
to Dec. 11, 2002.

In his memorandum to Comilang, Chief Supt. Rodolfo Caisip, PDEA chief, said
the Japanese experts will observe the rehabilitation centers and suggest for
its improvement.

The Japanese experts, Comilang said, will stay in the country for 29 days
from Nov. 13 to Dec. 11, 2002.

Since last Nov. 13, the Japanese experts made courtesy calls to PNP
officials, conducted seminars on anti-illegal drug operation, and briefings
on the illegal drug situation in the world.

"Illegal drug problem is becoming serious in various parts of the world and
our coming to Cebu is part of Jica's effort to eradicate drug addiction,"
Yuji said.

While Jica is financing infrastructure projects in the Philippines through
grants, it is also sending experts in various parts of the world in the
fight against drug addiction.