PLANTED DRUGS CAN BE LETHAL TO POLICEMEN

The House of Representatives approved yesterday on second and final
reading the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2001, which metes out capital
punishment on law enforcers who plant evidence to secure an arrest.

House Bill 4433 would effectively repeal Republic Act 6425, the
present anti-drugs law. It was passed during a marathon hearing of the
chamber, which started 9 p.m. Wednesday and lasted until 3 a.m. yesterday.

Cebu Rep. Antonio Cuenco, chairman of the House committee on dangerous
drugs, defended Committee Report No. 246 that embodied the approved
bill.

Cuenco said the approved measure would penalize not only drug users
and peddlers, but also erring law enforcers guilty of planting
evidence in drug-related busts.

The measure also pena-lizes with death any arresting officer who
misappropriates, misapplies or fails to account for seized or
confiscated dangerous drugs.

Members of the House approved the provision, which is seen as a sign
of support for the Death Penalty Law.

Bukidnon Rep. Juan Miguel Zubiri, a principal sponsor of the bill,
said it contained "tougher" provisions than its Senate
counterpart.

It lowers the amount of confiscated drugs that would qualify an
offender for capital punishment.

The present law mandates the death penalty for a person who possesses
at least 200 grams of shabu. The new law drastically reduces the
minimum amount to 10 grams.

Zubiri cited recent studies that allegedly show an average of five
grams a month of shabu consumption for addicts. Lowering the minimum
amount for capital punishment to 10 grams, he noted, ensures that
users don't become pushers.

Also under the bill, the penalty of life imprisonment to death and a
fine ranging from P500,000 to P10 million shall be imposed on any
person illegally in possession of any dangerous drugs in the following
quantities: 10 grams or more of opium; 10 grams or more of morphine;
10 grams or more of heroin; 150 grams or more of marijuana; 10 grams
or more of marijuana resin or marijuana resin oil; 10 grams or more of
cocaine or cocaine hydrochloride; 10 grams or more of dangerous drugs
without any therapeutic value, including designer drugs and their
derivatives.

A person who tests positive for use of dangerous drugs shall face a
penalty of six months community service under a local government unit
for the first offense.

In the second offense, the penalty shall be one-year community service
under a local government. A third arrest would merit six months
imprisonment and a fine ranging from P20,000 to P50,000.

The bill requires drug testing for applicants for driver's license;
applicants for permit to carry firearms; applicants for employment,
whether public, private, domestic or overseas; and military service
for men and women. All persons seeking public office should also file
a certificate attesting they have undergone a drug test with negative
results.

The bill is ready for the bicameral conference committee
hearing.