PNP revising anti-drug strategy

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine National Police (PNP) has started the process of revising its anti-drug strategy to address "systematic issues" on management, supervision and support to its operation units. PNP chief Director General Jesus Verzosa said this stemmed from President Arroyo's marching orders for a "fiercer war" on illegal drugs. "The PNP have already intensified our anti-drug operations after taking cue from the President's pronouncement to act as the 'Anti-Drug Czar'. Now, we are initiating some programs that may further lead to the redirection of the PNP's anti-drug efforts," Verzosa said in a press statement on the PNP website. PNP head for investigation and detective management and head of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) Director Raul Bacalzo said the efforts can yield a more positive response. "A 'One-Strike Policy' will be applied to PNP unit commanders who fail to lead anti-drug operations in their respective areas of jurisdiction. Currently, a tie-up with the OSG Anti-Drug Force was initiated for the review of high-profile drug cases that were dismissed at the level of the prosecutor or the court. We are also seeking for the review of the MOA between the PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency as well as other law enforcement agencies in order to come-up with the uniform manual in the conduct of anti-drug operations. A meeting with our foreign counterparts was also set to address this issue," Bacalzo said. From Jan. 1 to Feb. 6, he said 311 operations were conducted in the regions, which resulted in the arrest of 723 drug users and pushers as well as the filing of 613 cases. In the same period, some P208.951 million worth of illegal drugs was seized. Bacalzo also cited the PNP-AIDSOTF raid on an abandoned chemical warehouse at So. Umalad, Brgy. 4, Roxas Palawan last Janauary 23, 2009. A police team found equipment and chemicals used in the manufacture of illegal drugs worth some P1.2 million were confiscated. The operation resulted in the filing of cases against three alleged members of a foreign drug syndicate identified as Xu Quing Jiang a.k.a. Lucio Co/Ong and Lito Zhang; and Jackson Sy. A case was also filed against their local contacts identified as Danny Buena and Jimmy Aborot. Bacalzo also said a memorandum from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) was circulated to encourage PNP unit commanders to coordinate with local government units to solicit support for the implantation of the PNP's anti-illegal drug strategies. For his part, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said the PNP also scheduled random drug tests for PNP personnel. "The PNP is very strict with regards to our personnel who are found positive for drugs. For 2008 alone, there had been 80 personnel dismissed from the service, 24 suspended, 5 demoted, 2 dropped from rolls (AWOL) and 5 resigned. Currently there are still a total of 105 pending cases (26 under Pre-Charge Evaluation and 79 under Summary Dismissal Proceedings)," he said. For 2008, there had been a total of 25,134 personnel who have undergone the test. "The target of the PNP in its Random Drug Test for this year is 25% of the total PNP personnel. Right now we have a total of 125,000 members of the PNP. Rest assured that we will continue to put up a 'united effort' in the campaign against illegal drugs," Bartolome said. - GMANews.TV