PDEA: Anti-drug units must intensify campaign vs 'rugby boys'

MANILA, Philippines – Anti-drug operatives on Thursday announced they are seeking to intensify their approach in solving the “perennial problem" of solvent abusers or “rugby boys" proliferating in the streets of Metro and other major cities in the country. In a statement, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said it is moving for a multi-agency system in enforcing the Presidential Decree 1619 or The Law on Volatile Substances with the National Police. In the statement, PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago urged local government units, through their respective anti-drug abuse councils, to be more aggressive in enforcing the law. Santiago further lamented that law enforcement agencies lack funds that could provide food and shelter to the “rugby boys" rescued from the streets. As such, the PDEA chief said that the problem on solvent abusers is a social welfare matter as much as it is a law enforcement issue. Santiago said that adequate funding is needed to enable the Department of Social Welfare and Development “to perform its counterpart role of providing decent food and shelter" after the drug users are turned over to the department. The statement noted that the problem on solvent abuse is “glaring" as most users are local youths who sniff the substance in place of more expensive drugs like methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), marijuana and ecstasy. But amid these setbacks, Santiago lauded the House Bill filed by Citizens Battle Against Corruption (CIBAC) party-list representatives Joel Villanueva and Cinchona Cruz-Gonzales seeking to impose stiffer penalties against solvent abusers and those who indiscriminately sell the substance to minors. - Sophia Dedace, GMANews.TV