President Arroyo is revitalizing the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and putting it in charge of the fight against illegal drugs following a US government report describing the Philippines as a "drug smuggler's haven." "The DDB is provided by law to be a separate department and to take over the anti-drug campaign from the police," Mrs. Arroyo told STAR columnist Babe Romualdez in a one-on-one interview at Malacanang yesterday. "The transition is supposed to be done next year, so we have to accelerate the transition so that it will be done by next year," the President said. [continues 452 words]
President Arroyo paid tribute yesterday to drugbusters from different law enforcement agencies, particularly those who raided a "shabu tiangge" in Pasig City. Recognized were the men and women of the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the National Bureau of Investigation and the Philippine Air Force (PAF). "Congratulations to all of you and keep up the good work," the President told the members of the PNP's Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force, led by Director Marcelo Ele Jr., whom she personally invited to the Palace for their dedication to the government's campaign against illegal drugs. [continues 191 words]
President Arroyo renewed yesterday her declaration of all-out war on the illegal drug trade especially in Metro Manila, vowing not to spare politicians or law enforcers involved in the scourge. The President's order came as police and narcotics agents apprehended 319 people on Friday, including women and minors, and confiscated over half a kilo of shabu, half a sack of tooters (glass pipes used to inhale the drug) and drug money during a raid on a neighborhood in Pasig City that served as a tiangge (flea market) where the drug could be bought, sold and used. [continues 1099 words]
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has lost its case against the supposed Filipino caretaker of a shabu factory in Antipolo City which yielded 466 kilograms of shabu worth almost P2 billion during a raid last year. This, as Antipolo City Regional Trial Court Judge Mauricio Rivera dropped the charges against Eusebio Arellano Jr., alias Yang Jianzhiu. The court granted Arellano's appeal and set aside its earlier order denying his motion to quash the charges against him. He was ordered released from the Rizal provincial jail. [continues 253 words]
The Department of Justice will now automatically review dismissed big-time cases involving illegal drugs to ensure effective prosecution of suspects and protect public interest. Justice Secretary Simeon Datumanong said this was due to numerous complaints in the past of illegal drugs cases being whitewashed or junked due to sloppy police work. Datumanong issued Department Circular No. 46 on June 16 stating that dismissal of cases filed in violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and involving the maximum penalty of life imprisonment or death shall be subject to automatic review. [continues 256 words]
Persons accused of drug crimes are now banned from availing themselves of the provision on plea bargaining, and once convicted in court they will lose the privilege granted by the probation law, Sen. Renato Cayetano said yesterday. Under the new Dangerous Drugs Law or Republic Act 9165, all drug convicts are now prohibited from availing of the benefits of probation. "In the past, many drug offenders resorted to plea bargaining and abused the probation law to avoid serving time in prison," the senator said. [continues 217 words]
Sen. Blas Ople launched yesterday the Drugs Don't Work! program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) which aims to counter the growing prevalence of drug use in the workplace. During a trainors' training seminar under the program, Ople expressed concern over the prevalence of drug use among workers, particularly in the transportation and communication sectors. The senator from Bulacan said drug abuse has become a major problem among bus owners and taxi operators, thus threatening the lives of commuters. [continues 304 words]
Persons caught with at least 10 grams of shabu and other prohibited drugs would be denied bail if Sen. Robert Barbers is able to convince the bicameral conference committee to return this provision of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Bill of 2002. Members of the Senate and House of Representatives comprising the bicameral conference committee are set to reconcile their different versions of the bill. Barbers, the principal author of the Senate bill, told The STAR yesterday he wants the possession of at least 10 grams of shabu and other prohibited drugs to be a non-bailable offense. [continues 402 words]
Death For "Ecstasy?" As senators debate on the contentious provisions of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, including the death sentence for the use and sale of Ecstasy, its mostly young users are already getting high with protest. "That's too harsh! Are you saying the senators' kids will die? Movie stars will die?" Janine, 18, argued. Ecstasy is the street name for methylenedioxymethamphetamine or MDMA, a nearly 90-year-old synthetic drug that contains both stimulant (amphetamine-like) and hallucinogenic (LSD-like) properties. Its chemical structure is similar to methamphetamine and other synthetic drugs known to cause brain damage. [continues 986 words]
The Senate approved on third and final reading yesterday the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 expanding the scope of the old law, lowering the amount of drug possession needed for capital punishment and imposing stricter penalties for traffickers and users. The bill was certified as urgent by Malacaņang, allowing the chamber to pass it on second and third reading on two successive days. The death penalty provision as proposed by the Senate committee on public order and illegal drugs was carried despite the objection of Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr., who later agreed to withdraw his manifestation. [continues 187 words]
Soon, You Can Die From "Ecstasy." Ecstasy, the drug of choice of scions of well-to-do families and habitues of chic bars, may soon be included in the list of illegal substances that merit the death penalty. Senate President Franklin Drilon said over the weekend the Senate has been rushing the passage of an amended version of the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972 that would include in the list of banned drugs Ecstasy or its generic names "pharametoux amphetamine, trimethoxy amphetamine, lysergic acid diethylamine, gamma hydroxe buterate" and other similar "designer" drugs. [continues 294 words]
