Pubdate: Sat, 22 Jan 2005
Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines)
Contact:  http://www.mb.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906
Author: Gil M. Abarico
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Rodrigo+Duterte
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Cited: US Drug Enforcement Administration http://www.dea.gov
Cited: Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency http://www.pdea.gov.ph

US AID BOOSTS DAVAO CITY'S ALL-OUT DRIVE
AGAINST DRUGS

DAVAO CITY - In the next few days, the United States will be helping
this city in its all-out war against illegal drugs.

But this has nothing to do with the armed Americans, presumably
combatants, who have become visible in certain parts of Davao.

Local authorities said Friday that the US involvement in the war
against illegal drugs here will be made through the United States Drug
Enforcement Agency (USDEA) which has linked up with its regional
counterpart based in this city.

It was learned that USDEA is giving for free several units of
high-technology drug detection equipment to the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA) office in Region 11.

Regional PDEA chief Supt. Wilkins Villanueva said that American
friends at the US drug agency are facilitating the donation.

Villanueva said that he and his American friends went to school
together in training for special weapons and tactics, and this
explains the support.

Earlier, Mayor Rodrigo Duterte announced that local anti-drug agencies
here have already state-of-the-art equipment lent by US, Australian
and Hong Kong anti-drug operatives.

He said that local anti-drug operatives already have equipment with
the capability to detect drugs and warned "shabu" syndicates operating
clandestine drug factories here that they will soon be unmasked.

While Villanueva did not say when the equipment would be arriving, he
said it would surely bolster the government's anti-drug campaign.

Meanwhile, City Hall reported that Duterte's all-out war against
illegal drugs drew positive response from the citizenry as reports on
pushers and users in different barangays started to pour in.

The city information office said the response came after Duterte
announced he is bringing his war against illegal drugs to the
community level.

Duterte asked barangay leaders to conduct inspection of business
establishments in their area. 
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