Pubdate: Fri, 13 May 2005
Source: Philippine Star (Philippines)
Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2005
Contact:  http://www.philstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622
Author: Edu Punay
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

MUNTINLUPA DRUGBUSTERS BRING WAR TO BARANGAY LEVEL

Drugbusters are determined to bring the war down to the barangay
level.

Barangay officials in Muntinlupa City are now being trained by local
police in combating illegal drugs in their respective areas through
effective intelligence gathering and drug bust operations.

The city's Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Office (DAPCO) said that
through the training program, ranking police officers can share with
barangay officials techniques in outsmarting suspected drug pushers
and traffickers in the area.

DAPCO chief Chito Valerio said the program would enable barangay
officials to help police combat illegal drugs operations and pave the
way to a barangay-wide training where all residents would be expected
to participate.

"It aims to strengthen the city's anti-drug campaign and enhance the
current watchlist of data of information on suspected drug pushers and
users," he said in a statement.

City Police Deputy Chief for Operations Superintendent Edgar Ferrater
is handling seminars on intelligence, surveillance and undercover work.

Barangay officials, including watchmen, also undergo training in
arresting suspects and handling seized evidence under fiscal Vicente
Francisco.

The program would also pave the way for the implementation of DAPCO's
Tracker Project, which will create a watchdog in every barangay
through a secret pointman.

"The pointman is important in the program because he or she will be
the one to verify the information on illegal drugs being fed by the
tipster or DAPCO Tracker member on the text hotline. The person can
confirm the report to DAPCO before any other action can be taken
against the suspect," explained Valerio.

Authorities have assured the safety of the pointman, whose identity
would be strictly confidential.

Valerio stressed that through trackers they would be able to create a
local intelligence data base on suspected drug pushers and users in
coordination with youth councils, homeowners' associations,
non-government organizations and the private sector.

The official added the data base would be comprehensive enough to
include records of drug suspects in kidnapping, robbery, and other
crimes.

He also cited the importance of coordination with other local
government and national agencies, saying 20 percent of reports they
received last year were under the jurisdiction of neighboring cities.

In such cases, Valerio said they forward the information to the
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and Dangerous Drugs Board for
necessary action. 
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