Battle vs illegal drugs will be ‘unyielding,’ Arroyo vows

MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Tuesday appointed herself as anti-drug czar in order to supervise a “trinity against illegal drugs," and declared that the war against the “devil merchants" would be "unyielding and unrelenting." “The war shall be waged from three fronts, a Trinity Against Illegal Drugs. Law enforcement is the first component, judicial action is second and policy making will make up the third front of this all-out war," Mrs Arroyo declared. The President made the announcement in her opening speech before the start of the Cabinet meeting at Malacanang Tuesday morning. “Governments that delay action against illegal drugs, or regard it as a routine police matter, do so at their own peril," Mrs Arroyo said in explaining why she is spearheading the fight against illegal drugs. She added: “A country awash with illegal drugs is a country compromised, its law-and-order institutions tainted and corrupted. It is in this context that the government should map out its all-out war against [illegal drugs]." Mrs Arroyo, who has ordered Department of Justice (DOJ) officials implicated in the alleged "Alabang Boys" bribery scandal to go on leave, said she will turn over the leadership of the government's anti-drug efforts to Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chair Vicente Sotto III and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Dionisio Santiago at the proper time. She said the controversy on young drug suspects Richard Brodett, Jorge Jordana Tecson, and Joseph Tecson should prompt all sectors to intensify the war against illegal drug use. The President also called on the academe, Church groups, and non-government organizations and concerned sectors to intensify the campaign against illegal drugs. A radio report quoted President Arroyo as saying that local communities that will be declared drug-free zones will be granted adequate funding for projects promoting the welfare of the youth. Speaker Prospero Nograles said President Arroyo is the best person to lead the government's anti-drug efforts at this time. "I guess nobody can do it better than her under the circumstances, with the vast power and resources of the Office of the President," Nograles said in a text message to reporters. Five DOJ officials implicated in the "Alabang Boys" mess went on leave on Monday, including Justice Undersecretary Ricardo Blancaflor, chief state prosecutor Jovencito Zuño, senior state prosecutor Phillip Kimpo, and state prosecutors Misael Lagada and John Resado. Resado penned the December 2 resolution dismissing the case against the three drug suspects. PDEA Special Enforcement Services head Major Ferdinand Marcelino earlier alleged that DOJ prosecutors were bribed with P50 million by the drug suspects' affluent families to ensure their release. Marcelino also claimed that he was offered P3 million by the Tecsons so he will not file charges against the suspects in the first place, but said he refused the bribe. The three drug suspects, who were nabbed in a buy-bust operation last September 20, are currently under PDEA custody. Their fate remains uncertain pending Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez's review of the resolution recommending their release. Random drug test Mrs Arroyo also ordered authorities to conduct random drug test in public and private schools in the country. She said the government plans to tap private laboratories and several government agencies to ensure that all public and private high schools and colleges are drug-free. Officials from the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of Education (DepEd), and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) – who were all present in the meeting – have already thrown their support behind the President’s anti-drug efforts. Sotto said anti-narcotics enforcers would make surprise visits to secondary and tertiary schools nationwide to conduct drug test. Sotto said he believes parents would support the anti-drug campaign because this will be for their children's own good. He assured that anti-drug enforcers would respect the rights of students. The names of those who would be found positive for drugs will be held confidential, according to Sotto. Aside from surprise drug test in schools, DDB also plans to bring the anti-drug campaign to the showbiz industry and government offices. President Arroyo has directed the DOH to upgrade and ensure the effectiveness of the facilities in drug rehabilitation centers, as well as the revival of local drug abuse councils throughout the country. For his part, Press Secretary Jesus Dureza also called on the government agencies involved in the enforcement of anti-drug laws and with the prosecution in drug cases to coordinate with each other instead of clashing among themselves. - GMANews.TV