Pubdate: Fri, 09 Sep 2005 Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer (Philippines) Copyright: 2005 Philippine Daily Inquirer Contact: http://www.inquirer.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1073 Author: Jerry E. Esplanada Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines WHAT WORKS VS 'JUETENG' SHOULD WORK VS DRUGS -- HAGEDORN "FRIENDLY persuasion," which proved quite effective in curbing the illegal numbers game "jueteng" in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan province could also work in the drive against illegal drugs, according to Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn. Hagedorn, also the Arroyo administration's "anti-jueteng czar," said he planned to share the "Pinoy [Filipino] strategy" with some 300 international anti-drug specialists attending the 2nd Asian Cities Against Drugs (Ascad) summit in his city on October 12-15. President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo was originally scheduled to address the conference, which seeks a "Drug-Free Asia" but would most likely send a representative, according to Malacanang sources. Citing the "Puerto Princesa experience," Hagedorn told the Inquirer that "minimizing, if not totally eradicating, the drug menace was possible using the friendly persuasion tactic." "Without using force or violence, we have successfully put pushers behind bars and brought drug dependents back to the normal stream of society," Hagedorn said. The Malaysian port-city of Melaka hosted last year's first Ascad summit, jointly organized by the Colombo Plan Drug Advisory Program, the Melaka State Government, and the Malaysian National Drugs Agency. Summit delegates adopted the Melaka Resolution where they reaffirmed their commitment to the prevention and control of illegal drugs in their respective countries. As of Thursday, delegations from the following countries had confirmed their attendance at the conference: Malaysia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, India, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Nepal, Maldives, and the United States. The theme of this year's conference is "Asian Cities Against Drugs: From Conceptualization to Implementation." According to Hagedorn, who admitted to being a "jueteng" operator in the past, "this highlights the importance of government and the private sector joining hands in addressing the drug menace." In a message to the host city, Melaka Mayor Datuk Hj. Zaini Bin Md. Nor said, "The time has come for Asian cities to stand up and draw an action plan" in fighting the drug problem in the region. Zaini, who also heads the Ascad secretariat, strongly believes that "with the close relationship among (Ascad member-cities), we can develop a network that will embark on drug demand reduction activities and combat the escalating drug menace and related crimes." - ---