OLD DRUG LAW GETS NEW TEETH

CONGRESS is well on the way to replacing the 30-year-old Dangerous Drugs
Act with a far more stringent measure whose penalties against offenders
include the death penalty for possession of a mere five grams of marijuana
resin and other drugs deemed to be illegal.

The House committees on dangerous drugs, public order and security, and
appropriations submitted to Speaker Jose de Venecia on Feb. 20 their report
on the proposed Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, or House Bill No. 4433.

The bill consolidates 23 bills sponsored by 34 congressmen and will repeal
RA 6425, or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972.

The Senate has a counterpart measure but it has yet to come up with its own
committee report.

The proposed law has increased the penalties and fines for possession not
just of illegal drugs but of "controlled precursors and essential chemicals."

Those found in possession of five grams or more of opium, morphine,
methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, heroin, marijuana resin oil,
cocaine and drugs with no therapeutic value, or 200 grams or more of
marijuana will face the maximum penalty of life imprisonment or death and a
fine ranging from 500,000 pesos to 10 million pesos.

The maximum penalty is to be imposed also on those found importing,
selling, administering, delivering, distributing, transporting and
manufacturing dangerous drugs as well as maintaining a "den, dive or resort
where any dangerous drug is used in any form."

It imposes the same maximum penalty on those who plant, cultivate or
culture marijuana, the opium poppy or any other plants classified as
dangerous drugs.

Any government official, employee, police or military officer found guilty
of planting dangerous drugs, equipment or paraphernalia as evidence on
suspects will also be meted out the maximum penalty.

Employees and visitors to a drug den, dive or resort face a penalty of
imprisonment of 6 to 12 years and a fine of 50,000 pesos to 200,000 pesos.

The proposed law also requires mandatory drug testing for applicants for
driver's licenses, permits to carry firearms, employment (whether public,
private, domestic or overseas), entry into the military service and all
persons seeking public office.

The Dangerous Drugs Board will be retained but the number of its members
will be increased and its functions strengthened.