Pubdate: Thu, 17 Jun 2004
Source: Sunstar Cagayan De Oro (Philippines)
Copyright: 2004 Sunstar Cagayan De Oro.
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2983
Author: Lizanilla J. Amarga

PDEA VERIFIES SPREAD OF ECSTASY PILLS IN ORO

THE regional office of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 10 
disclosed they are now investigating reports of ecstasy pills being sold in 
some of the bars being frequented by rich and influential families in 
Cagayan de Oro City.

This as the same agency debunked reports that Cagayan de Oro is a "dropping 
point" for drugs coming from the northern part of the country.

PDEA 10 Chief Rene Orbe told Sun.Star that they have received reports that 
there could be some pushers for the illegal drug known as ecstacy pills at 
some of the resto bars here.

"We are now looking into this report and these elite groups," he said.

Ecstasy pills are reportedly priced at around P1,500 to P2,000 per tablet. 
It is reputed to be the drugs used by movie actors and actresses along with 
those who can afford it.

Orbe believes that the supply of expensive drugs such as ecstasy pills have 
become "scarce" even including shabu.

"The more scarce a drug is the more expensive it is...this is why people 
who are into drugs are now going back to marijuana," he said.

Meanwhile, Orbe said Cagayan de Oro city is not a "dropping point" for 
drugs coming from the Luzon and Visayas islands.

He said most illegal drugs are however dropped in Ozamis and Iligan areas 
rather than here in the city.

"Dili ta dropping point but entry point lang ta diri kay adto mana nila 
dad-on sa lain nga mga lugar (Cagayan de Oro city is not a dropping point 
but an entry point for illegal drugs as these drug organizations bring them 
elsewhere)," he said adding that most of these illegal drugs are being 
taken to Lanao del Norte like that of the towns of Bumbaran and Wao while 
others are being pushed at Iligan City.

Orbe explained that this is why they are trying to tighten entrance/exit 
checkpoints, port and terminal areas of the city.

"Some are taking detours but it would not be long before we would be 
closing in on them," he said in Visayan.

He then cited Cagayan de Oro-Bukidnon-Marawi detour being taken by these 
drug organizations rather than the shorter Cagayan de Oro-Iligan-Marawi route.

Nevertheless, Orbe said they are doing all they can to rid the region of 
illegal drugs. Currently, he said Region 10 is the second to the last 
region that has the most number of drug related incidences.

"In Mindanao, first is Zamboanga followed by Davao then Region 12, fourth 
is our Region 10 then Caraga," he said.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart