SOLON TARGETS DRUG HAVENS

Sen. Noli de Castro has proposed a critical amendatory article to the
proposed Dangerous Drugs Act, which impressed no less than Senate President
Franklin Drilon.

Before a scarce crowd and with only six colleagues present at the session
hall, De Castro inserted a new article to the proposed act calling for
local administrative action to abate drug-related public nuisances.

The De Castro amendment effectively padlocks for a year any residential or
commercial unit proven to have been used in the traffic, manufacture or
sale of dangerous drugs on two or more instances.

Under the amendment, such nuisance may be abated pursuant to three
procedures among them a local ordinance, in response to a complaint of an
officer or resident of the city or municipality or following a hearing to
be conducted by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

"With this article, the days of such places will be numbered and hopefully,
this amendment will force owners of commercial or residential units to be
responsible and prevent their places from being involved in any type of
drug-related transactions," he said.

Should the DDB declare a place as a public nuisance, it may issue an order
immediately prohibiting the conduct, operation or maintenance of any
business or activity on the premises.

In an apparent show of support for the De Castro Amendment, Drilon readily
gave his vote of confidence when the topnotch senator offered to subject
his amendment to the style of the proponent.

"In fact, the style is good," Drilon said.