Pubdate: Mon, 11 Dec 2006
Source: Sunstar Cagayan De Oro (Philippines)
Copyright: 2006 Sunstar Cagayan De Oro.
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2983
Author: Danilo V. Adorador III

EDUCATION EXECS TO SHED LIGHT ON DRUG SCENE

CONTINUING its investigation on the scale of illegal  drug operations 
in the city, the City Council will hear  Monday the regional director 
of the Department of  Health (DOH), whose survey reportedly placed 
Cagayan de  Oro City at the top of the list for drug abuse 
among  high school students.

DOH Regional Director Julito Sabornido was expected to  appear along 
with Estrella Abid-Babano, regional  director of the Department of 
Education (DepEd) and  Edna Maghinay, City Schools Division officer-in-charge.

According to the City Council agenda bulletin, the  three officials 
were being summoned to "shed light, in  aid of legislation, regarding 
the DOH research" which  purportedly showed that "Region 10, 
particularly  Cagayan de Oro City, tops the list for illegal drug use 
among high school students."

That report presumably appeared in the November 16  issue of the 
Philippine Star, but a follow-up by this  paper showed that neither 
Cagayan de Oro City nor any  particular place was mentioned in the article.

However, Vice Mayor Michelle Spiers explained that  Cagayan de Oro 
was later mentioned in a current affairs  program over ABS-CBN an 
evening after the publication.

The report said that about 160,000 or nearly one  percent of the 
country's 20 million high school  students have used drugs.

Sabornido and the two other education officials are  expected to 
elucidate the extent of illegal drug use  among students, and whether 
the media reports on the  matter were accurate.

The legislative inquiry on illegal drugs started last  week after 
Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, citing  well-placed intelligence, 
said Cagayan de Oro City is  being used as a "transit point" of 
illegal drug  couriers.

Superintendent Nerio Bermudo, head of the Philippine  Drug 
Enforcement Agency (PDEA) who was grilled for  hours by councilors, 
assailed Duterte's statement, and  denied any knowledge of the DOH 
survey pointing to the  alleged mounting drug abuse among high school students.

The response irritated councilors who demanded Bermudo  to review 
PDEA's assessment of illegal drug activities  in the city, and to 
enforce "concrete actions" against  drug trafficking.

Following the City Council inquiry, police raided last  Tuesday a 
drug den in Barangay 21, one of the two areas  authorities said where 
drug trafficking is prevalent.

Four residents were arrested while having a  "pot-session," said PO2 
Nolasco Gaabucayan of Cogon  Police.

Spiers said she will sponsor a resolution commending  the police 
officers who conducted the operation.

Village leader Modesto Ligtas, whose area in Barangay  35 is known 
for rampant illegal drug trade, believes  Duterte's statement to be 
reliable, citing the  situation in his own barangay.

Ligtas identified Garcia and Don Ramon Chavez streets  as "peddling 
areas" in his barangay -- the illegal  drugs being supplied by a 
Maranao trader from Marawi,  re-packed near a mosque in said area and 
distributed by  runners.

Citing unnamed sources within the barangay, he said the  illegal 
drugs are stashed in a truckload of sacks of  ginger (luy-a), hauled 
and repacked in Cagayan de Oro  for eventual delivery and 
distribution in Davao City  using the Bukidnon route.
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MAP posted-by: Elaine