Pubdate: Sun, 14 Oct 2001 Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines) Contact: http://www.mb.com.ph/frntpage.asp Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906 Author: Monina Zenarosa, Executive Judge, National Capital Judicial CONCERTED BATTLE VS DRUGS, POVERTY CEBU CITY - Speaker Jose de Venecia yesterday endorsed a bill seeking to consolidate all anti-illegal drugs programs of the government under a single agency as he launched Drug-Free Cebu 2004 at the Sacred Heart Center here. De Venecia was referring to the creation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Administration sought by HB 437. De Venecia also said Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who had breakfast with him yesterday morning in Manila, has expressed support for the creation of a Southeast Asian alliance against poverty, international terrorism and drugs. "We in Southeast Asia should now mount a concerted battle against poverty, terrorism, and the narcotics syndicates,' the speaker said. The House committee on drugs headed by Rep. Antonio Cuenco joined the province's civic, military, religious, business leaders, and top officials of the Philippine National Police, in launching the drug- free program. Also here to attend the public hearing on HB 437 were Reps. Roque Ablan Jr., Nerissa Son-Ruiz, Clavel Martinez, Isidro Real, Raul del Mar, and top local officials. Cuenco said the launching of Drug-Free Cebu 2004 is in line with President Arroyo's Letter of Instruction 1 for a drug-free Philippines by 2010. De Venecia expressed concern over the continuous operation of the narcotics Golden Triangle involving Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia. He said that all speakers of parliaments in the region should travel to Myanmar to persuade its leaders to stop the narcotics trade and re- establish the Myanmar parliament that has been suspended for decades. Cuenco lauded the PNP regional command for initiating the anti-drug program. The public hearing, he said, will allow a comprehensive consultation with local officials and the private sector on the twin measures aimed at winning the fight against drugs. PNP Director General Leandro R. Mendoza, chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), announced yesterday the arrest of 13 suspected members of a drug trafficking syndicate, including a Philippine Basketball League (PBL) player and two other foreigners, allegedly involved in the proliferation of "Ecstasy" pills in Metro Manila. The 13 were allegedly collared in an entrapment operation in Quezon City. Mendoza identified the suspects as Marvin Ducat, tagged as leader of the group; British Stewart MacDonald, 27 staying at Unit 1905 Parc Chateaum Ortigas Center, Pasig City; American Jayson Johnson, a PBL player and a resident of 1103-B Wack Wack Twin Towers; and Philip Glass, 34, an American and reportedly a teacher. Also arrested were Jovy Crispal, 24; Anton Garcia, 21; Jacqueline Ulganan, 21; Ana Lisa San Juan, 27; Aljor Castro, 43; Joseph Vernie Ducat, brother of Marvin and presently a musical producer; Virgilio Rivas, 40; Oliver Villar, 29; and Mel Santos, 27, an interior designer. Deputy Director General Edgar Galvante, PNP-National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, said the suspects were arrested in a raid on an alleged drug den at 29 Ilongot St., la Vista Subd., barangay Pansol, Quezon City. Galvante reported to Mendoza that the raiding team was composed of members of the Metro Manila Drug Enforcement Group (MMDEG) and the Regional Intelligence Special Operation Office of the NCRPO. Prior to the arrest, police said the suspects were placed under surveillance for more than a month after they received reports of their drug trafficking operations. The raid was conducted on the strength of a warrant of arrest issued by Executive Judge Monina Zenarosa of the National Capital Judicial Region-Quezon City Regional Trial Court. Police said two search warrants were also issued against Ducat after he was tagged as leader of the gang. Recovered from the suspects were an unlicensed .45 caliber pistol; 33 bullets; 39 Ecstasy pills worth P1,500 each; and other paraphernalia used in re-packing Ecstasy. Police also confiscated P77,500 cash believed to be the group's earnings from their illicit transactions. The raiding team also impounded a Mitsubishi Lancer with a fake registration sticker and a Honda 250 cc motorcycle. CEBU CITY - Speaker Jose de Venecia yesterday endorsed the consolidation under a signle agency of all government programs to fight illegal drugs - the "merchant of death" - as he led the launching of Drug-Free Cebu 2004 at the Sacred Heart Center here. Congress has created for the first time a powerful body, the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, to strengthen the fight against the drug menace, de Venecia said, as he attended its third public hearig to signify his support of House Bill 437 creating the Philippine Drug Enforcement Administration. A second House bill (HB 806) seeks the reduction of the Quantity of Drug involved as a basis for imposign stiffer penalties. It seeks to amend certain sections of Republic Act 6425, the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972. The authors of the two measures, House Foreign Affairs Committee chair Rep. Apolinario Lozada (HB 437), and Rep. Gilbert Remulla (HB 806) - were in attendance here. Most recent police estimates put the number of Filipino drug dependents at 1.7 million but Rep. Remulla said the figure could be higher. De Venecia also said Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who had breakfast with the House leader earlier in the morning in Manila, has expressed support for the creation of a Southeast Asian alliance against poverty, international terrorism and drugs. "We in Southeast Asia should now mount a concertd battle against poverty, terrorism and the narcotics syndicates,' the Speaker said. The House committee on drugs is headed by Rep. Antonio Cuenco, a fearless crusader against illegal drugs who joined the province's civic, military, religious and business leaders, including top officials of the Philippine National Police, in launching the drug- free program. Also here to attend the public hearin were Representatives Roque Ablan Jr., Nerissa Son-Ruiz, Clavel Martinez, Isidro Real, Raul del Mar and top local officials. The Speaker said the Cuenco committee is not just a special committee but a regular standing panel to underscore Congress' determined war against drugs, which he said "continue to destroy the Filipino family and the nation's future." In HB 806, Remulla said the "enforcement of existing rules are not producing the desired results in lessening the problem and the number of drug users." Cuenco said the launchin of "Drug-Free Cebu 2004" is in line with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's Letter of Instruction No. 1 for a Drug-Free Philippines by 2010. De Venecia expressed concern over the continuous operation of the narcotics trade from the Golden Triangle involving Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia. He said that all speakers of parliaments in the region should travel to Myanmar to persuade its leaders to roll back the narcotics trade and to re-establish the Myanmar Parliament which has been suspended for decades. Cuenco lauded the PNP regional command for initiating the anti-drug program. The public hearing, he said, will allow a comprehensive consultation with local officils and the private sector on the twin measures aimed at winning the fight against drugs. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth