LAPID'S ANTI-DRUG TASK FORCE

THE recent announcement by Gov. Manuel "Lito" Lapid about the creation of a
provincial task force against illegal gambling and illegal drugs is a
welcome development.

The creation of the task force, which would be supported by the Special
Action Force of the Philippine National Police to make it more effective
against criminals and those involved in jueteng and other types of illegal
gambling, is a long overdue move.

It is good that the action-governor has finally acknowledged that that there
is a grave problem about illegal drug proliferation in many parts of the
province. This particular problem, by the way, is especially in the town of
Mabalacat.

Provincial administrator Benalfre Galang, one of Lapid's lawyers, said that
they are studying the possibility of authorizing task force members to
arrest jueteng workers and drug pushers. Although this could perhaps fill
the void being left by law enforcers in their crusade against drug pushers,
the task force members should be composed of non-abusive personnel who
really hate illegal drugs.

While jueteng and drug pushing are both against the law, the task force
should put greater emphasis against illegal drugs, which is a hundred times
more evil than jueteng and small-time gambling operations. Maybe assigning
more personnel in the illegal drugs campaign would do.