Palace eyes assigning DOJ usec to handle drug cases

Malacañang is considering assigning an undersecretary at the Department of Justice to exclusively handle drug-related cases, in a bid to combat the illegal drug menace. Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte on Saturday said President Benigno Aquino III and DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima had discussed the matter at a recent meeting. “President Aquino said pinag-usapan nila ni Secretary of Justice, paano ang pag-dispatch ng kasong na may relasyon sa drugs. Napag-usapan nila isang undersecretary sa DOJ ma-assign exclusively for the resolution of drug-related cases," Valte said on government-run dzRB radio. She said Aquino also ordered the investigation of at least one prosecutor suspected of being biased in handling drug cases. She did not name the prosecutor. But Valte also said the judiciary should do its part in fighting the drug menace by ensuring the conviction of offenders in drug-related cases. “Efforts against drug pushers should not just come from the executive branch. President Aquino said that while the law is there, there must be certainty of punishment so criminals will think twice before violating the law," she said. “The prosecution does not remain on the executive but the judiciary also has to make sure there will be certainty of punishment to those who will be found guilty, and swiftly," she said Transshipment point While Valte admitted the tag on the Philippines as a transshipment point of drugs is relatively new, and that the Philippines must shed such a tag soonest. “Seryoso tayo sa pagtanggal nitong pagsisimulang maging imahe ng Pilipinas sa bagay na ito (We are serious in removing such a tag)," she said. She said this is despite the lack of personnel and equipment on the part of the Coast Guard to keep watch over the country’s coastal areas. On the other hand, Valte said there is no need to appoint a drug czar at this time, because there is an inter-agency body already handling the matter. But she said the Palace will study the recommendation of the Department of Foreign Affairs to strengthen the inter-agency body by adding at least two new members. Last Friday, the DFA said the task force can be strengthened by including the Departments of Justice and Interior and Local Government among its members. Current members of the task force are the DFA, Bureau of Immigration, Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police, the Department of Labor and Employment, the Philippine Information Agency, the Manila International Airport Authority, and the Philippine Tourism Authority. — LBG, GMA News