Sotto wants separate office that will ensure success of cases vs. drug, criminal suspects

Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III has sought the creation of an office that will ensure the success of the prosecution cases that will be filed against drug suspects and criminals.

In Resolution 702, Sotto urged President Rodrigo Duterte to create the “Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes” that will focus and address the problem of prosecution in the government’s war against illegal drugs and other crimes.

The senator expressed alarm that more than 70 percent of drug cases filed have been dismissed.

“Despite the strong cases filed, cases are eventually dismissed due to lack of coordination between the law enforcers and prosecutors especially in the case build-up stage,” he said. 

Sotto said the purpose of the office, which will be created through an executive order, is to ensure that cases filed will end in prosecution.

“The said office shall also formulate programs and protocols to strengthen the prosecution of drug cases and assist law enforcers,” he added.

Under the resolution, the state and public prosecutors will be designated to the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and National Bureau of Investigation to advise, supervise, and monitor anti-drug and crimes operations especially high profile drugs cases.

The Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes shall supervise and make into one body the DILG, PNP, PDEA, NBI, BOC and DOJ. The Solicitor General shall be designated as the head of the office.

There will be deputy commanders for Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao taken from the present undersecretaries and/or assistant secretaries from the Department of Justice, Department of Interior and Local Government, Dangerous Drugs Board, Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and other necessary agencies. 

Personnel and staff of the Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes will be coming from PDEA, PNP, DDB and NBI. —Amita Legaspi/KBK, GMA News