Pubdate: Thu, 15 Aug 2002
Source: Visayan Daily Star (Philippines)
Copyright: 2002 Visayan Daily Star
Contact:  http://dgte.mozcom.com/visayandailystar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1688
Author: Gilbert Bayoran
Note: To read more about the Philippines latest anti-drug crusade visit
http://www.mapinc.org/areas/philippines .

CUADRA NOT UNTOUCHABLE

The Philippine National Police and the newly-formed Drug Enforcement Agency
are collaborating efforts to pin down the Kim Cuadra group operating in
Negros Occidental, especially in Bacolod City, which is also among the 27
drug syndicates identified nationwide.

Senior Supt. Geary Barias, provincial police director of Negros Occidental,
yesterday said Boy Cuadra is not untouchable, contrary to the belief of
Negrenses.

Barias said Cuadra has a pending case for illegal possession of drugs. He,
however, admitted that the previous anti-drug law was not as strong as the
RA 9165, Dangerous Drug Act of 2002, and had paved the way for Cuadra to
post bail.

Senior Supt. Lazaro Torcita, PDEA regional director of Western Visayas, said
the Cuadra group gets its supply of shabu from Manila, Cebu and Misamis
Oriental.

Ronnie and Julio Cuadra, uncle and half-brother of Kim Cuadra, are among the
known drug personalities arrested separately by Torcita in Bacolod City last
year, leading to the recovery of a kilo of suspected shabu.

With the passage by Congress and the approval of President Arroyo of the new
anti-drug act, we are now better armed in our campaign, Barias said,
referring to the heavy penalties prescribed for mere possession of
prohibited drugs.

Torcita said the Cuadra group operates from north to south in Negros
Occidental.

Various government anti-drug units have been placed under PDEA, which is now
spearheading the anti-drug campaign nationwide.

The Police Regional Office 6 reported an increase in the supply of shabu in
Western Visayas, citing the recovery of big volumes of shabu in Bacolod
City.

The Dangerous Drug Act of 2002, known as RA 9165, calls for life
imprisonment to a maximum of death penalty for any person convicted for
possession 50 grams of shabu, 500 grams of marijuana and 10 grams of
ecstasy.
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MAP posted-by: Doc-Hawk