BARANGAY OFFICIALS MOBILIZED VS DRUGS

Lucena City-President Gloria Arroya yesterday urged barangay officials here
to join hands against suspected distributors of illegal drugs in their areas.

The President made the call before the officers and members of the Barangay
Peace and Order Commitee (BPOC) in a meeting at the Queen margaret Hotel here.

"If we acan solve the problem of drugs, it will be a big step for the
maintenance of public safety of Lucena," the President said.

She stressed it was high time that local officials, particularly those in
the barangays, check their places for notorious "area managers" responsible
for distributing illegal drugs.

During the dialogue, Lucena City Mayor Ramon Talaga Jr. told the President
that one of the major concerns was the continuous proliferation of
prohibited drugs in at least eight of the 33 barangays in the city.

Talaga also presented to the Chief Executive a seven-point agenda outlining
the city's top priorities in maintaining peace and order, including a
proposed amendment to Republic Act 6245 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972.

The proposal of the Lucena City BPOC sought to lower the quantity of
non-bailable possession of illegal drugs from the present 200 grams to only
10 grams. The BPOC aso suggested that recidivists or those frequently
arrestedfor drug possession should be barred from posting bail even if
caught in possession of less than 10 grams of the illegal substance.

In response to their appeal, the President asked the barangay officials to
send a delegation to and lobby with the Senate in Manila since a similar
bill is pending before the chamber.

She told them that the bill seeking a reduction in the quantity of illegal
drug possession was one of the 16 priority bills of the administration.

Among those present during the dialogue were Quezon Gov. Wilfrido Enverga,
Quezon Rep. Lynette Punzalan and Presidential Assistant for Southern Luzon
Cesar Sarino.