Pubdate: Sat, 24 Jan 2009 Source: Manila Times (Philippines) Copyright: 2009 The Manila Times Contact: http://www.manilatimes.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921 Authors: Angelo S. Samonte and Sammy Martin Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) NARCO-POLITICS SOUNDS 'GREEK' TO MALACANANG Malacanang said it has not received any official information on the allegedly pervasive influence of narco-politics in the country, contrary to revelations made by the chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). "We have not had any official report on the involvement of drug lords in our political system," deputy spokesman Anthony Golez told The Manila Times during an interview. "The only instruction of the President was for the local governments to join the national government in its campaign against illegal drugs." During a press conference on Wednesday, however, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita admitted that there is a general perception that narco-politics has indeed crept into the Philippine political system. The revelations made on Thursday by the head of anti-drug agency, Director General Dionisio Santiago, prompted President Gloria Arroyo to order the drug agency and the Dangerous Drugs Board during the last Cabinet meeting to investigate local officials involved in the illegal drug trade, Ermita said. "There are local executives who are not supportive of the national government's campaign against illegal drugs," he added. "They are not attuned to PDEA and Dangerous Drugs Board's policies. There are also reports that some [of these executives] are involved, [if those reports are true, then] there must be collusion among agencies." Some local politicians are using their businesses as a cover for their illicit-drug deals, and the President wants that ploy investigated, Ermita said. He cited a case in Quezon province, south of Manila, a few years ago where a town mayor was arrested transporting large quantities of shabu (methampetamine hydrochloride or "ice") using an ambulance. "So in all, the President said, 'Intensify your intelligence job so that we can go to the bottom of this illegal drug business,'" Ermita said. The Manila Times reported on Friday that illegal drug gangs have penetrated Philippine politics, quoting Santiago, who said that the narcotics problem had become a threat to national security. According to the agency chief, narco-politics is affecting the country at all levels of politics, from the municipal to the national. But he declined to give names and would not be drawn on whether the syndicates included people in the Arroyo administration, senators or congressmen. The President declared herself as the country's anti-drug czar, saying that she has to assume the post because of the need for a more effective anti-drug campaign and to prevent drug traffickers from corrupting the justice system. She also ordered Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor and four government lawyers, including Chief State Prosecutor Jovencito Zuno, to go on leave in connection with the case of the "Alabang Boys"--three young suspected drug traffickers from well-off families. PNP Cooperation On Santiago's call on law-enforcement agencies for a collaborative approach to licking the drug menace, the chief of the national police also on Friday said they are willing to share with the anti-drug agency information on high-profile personalities suspected to be involved in drug trafficking. Police Director General Jesus Verzosa, during a chance interview, added that they also are willing to cooperate in the agency's fight against banned substances whose use, he said, has reached an alarming stage. "We are very willing to share information [with PDEA] but what we need is a formal invitation or request [from the drug agency] to avoid misinterpretation," he told reporters at national-police headquarters at Camp Crame in Quezon City. He was taping his regular television show, Talakayan Sa Isyu ng Pulis, or TSIP, aired over government television every Friday night. The formal invitation or request, Verzosa said, would prevent conflict with the anti-drug agency, which has full jurisdiction over drug cases, including those involving "small" traffickers. Police Rejected Former national police chief Avelino Razon Jr. had asked the drug agency to give to the police the authority to arrest such traffickers. But the agency refused, saying that it can deal with all drug suspects. The rejection made Razon pull out all national-police personnel assigned to the drug agency. He, however, gave them the option to stay but they no longer would be part of the national police if they did. The national police allow their anti-narcotics units to conduct drug operations provided that at least one member of the anti-drug agency would join the missions. The presence of the agency member is meant to avoid the issue of "technicalities" when a drug case is filed before the office of prosecutors. One technicality that has been invoked by lawyers of drug suspects is their clients getting arrested without a warrant. If it is upheld by the courts, charges are dropped and the suspects are released. Under this arrangement, Verzosa said, they could only share information on drugs, thus, the need for the formal invitation or request. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake