Pubdate: Sat, 28 Jan 2006
Source: Sun.Star Cebu (Philippines)
Copyright: 2006 Sun.Star
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1690
Author: JGA
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/af.htm (Asset Forfeiture)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)

IBP ASKS FOR BETTER LAB TESTS, AS SHABU CASES CONGEST JAILS

The ability of a suspected drug offender to have the drugs confiscated
from him quantitatively tested can mean facing a bailable or
non-bailable offense.

More and more drug offenders are languishing in jail because the mere
possession of five grams of shabu makes the offense
non-bailable.

The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP)-Cebu City Chapter,
concerned about this, has filed a resolution urging the Philippine
Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to put up a forensic laboratory in Cebu
City to conduct a quantitative examination of all dangerous drugs
specimen submitted to the Philippine National Police (PNP) crime laboratory.

"He/she (accused) will stand to lose permanently her life or liberty
in case of conviction on the mere basis of the qualitative examination
of the dangerous drugs," the resolution read.

No Equipment

Lawyer Gloria Lastimosa-Dalawampu explained that PDEA 7 and the PNP 7
crime laboratory only do qualitative examinations of the specimens, as
it does not have the equipment to conduct quantitative
examinations.

Qualitative examinations mean that only a part of the whole amount of
illegal drugs confiscated by authorities will be examined. If the
sample is tests positive for methamphetamine hydrochloride, for
example, then the suspect will be charged for the whole quantity.

As a result, the amount reflected in the drug case filed in court is
more than the actual amount of methamphetamine hydrochloride.

One such example, as narrated by the IBP, is a recent case involving
drugs with a total weight of 18.6757 grams of shabu, according to the
qualitative examination of the PNP Crime Laboratory.

But when checked by the National Bureau of Investigation Forensic
Chemistry Section in Manila, the methamphetamine hydrochloride content
was only 0.3395 grams, making the offense bailable.

P100,000

With tests being conducted in Manila, Dala-wampu said suspects may
have to spend as much as P100,000 for the said examination.

The resolution also cited RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs
Act of 2002, Section 21, which states that the PDEA is required "to
put up a forensic laboratory which shall conduct both the qualitative
and quantitative examination of drug specimens. 
- ---
MAP posted-by: Tom