Pubdate: Tue, 04 Jan 2005
Source: Philippine Star (Philippines)
Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2005
Contact:  http://www.philstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622
Author: Marichu Villanueva
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/raids.htm (Drug Raids)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)

GMA HAILS DUTERTE FOR ALL-OUT WAR VS DRUGS

President Arroyo hailed yesterday Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for 
waging his own campaign against the illegal drugs trade and cited the 
killing "with extreme prejudice" of six suspects in the drug bust on New 
Year's Eve in Davao City was part of the all out war against local and 
international syndicates operating in the Philippines.

The President singled out Duterte for taking the lead among local 
government officials in doing his part to boost the national campaign 
against illegal drugs in the country.

This was after authorities arrested 10 Chinese and 3 Filipinos in follow-up 
anti-drug operations a day after the six alleged drug dealers were killed 
in a shootout with anti-narcotics agents.

The Davao bust itself came a few days after almost P13 billion worth of 
shabu and percursor chemicals were confiscated in three separate raids in 
Bataan and Bulacan by joint operatives of the Philippine Drugs and 
Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Task Force of 
the Philippine National Police (PNP).

Mrs. Arroyo earlier designated Duterte, known for his tough anti-crime 
campaign in Davao, to head the Anti-Terror Watch in the south following the 
bombing attack in General Santos City on Dec. 12.

The first city mayor to be commended though in the government's anti-drug 
campaign was Quezon City Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. after the raid on a 
clandestine shabu laboratory in a private subdivision in the city.
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