Pubdate: Fri, 11 Jul 2003
Source: Visayan Daily Star (Philippines)
Copyright: 2003 Visayan Daily Star
Contact:  http://dgte.mozcom.com/visayandailystar/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1688
Author: Gilbert Bayoran

POLICE WARNED AGAINST DISMISSAL OF DRUG CASES

Immediate superiors of policemen who deliberately cause the unsuccessful 
prosecution of drug offenders, leading to the dismissal of drug cases will 
also face the penalty of imprisonment and dismissal from the service, the 
police said yesterday.

RA 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002, states that the 
immediate superiors of police personnel will be penalized a maximum of six 
months imprisonment and a fine of P50,000, if he will not exert reasonable 
effort to present the concerned PNP member who served as a witness to the 
court.

Senior Supt. Vicente Ponteras, provincial police director of Negros 
Occidental, yesterday said he has already disseminated the guidelines of 
the Department of Interior and Local Government, on the provisions of RA 9165.

Ponteras warned of administrative and criminal sanctions against policemen 
who fail to comply with their duty, or ignore the court order, for them to 
appear in court as witnesses in drug-related offenses.

Similar penalties await government prosecutors, members of the Philippine 
Drug Enforcement Agency and other law enforcement agencies, should they 
bungle the prosecution of drug cases.

The Dangerous Drug Board chaired by Jose Lina Jr., concurrent secretary of 
the Department of Interior and Local Government and NAPOLCOM chairman, 
cited RA 9165 which provides for the imprisonment from 12 to 20 years of 
imprisonment, police officers and personnel who "through patent laxity, 
inexcusable neglect, unreasonable delay or deliberately cause the 
unsuccessful prosecution and dismissal of drug cases".

We will not allow their incompetence to go unpunished. We shall hold them 
liable should their inaction result in the dismissal of drug cases and the 
acquittal of the accused in said cases, Lina, said in a statement issued. 
Planting of evidence, by the police, if determined by the court, is 
punishable by death, RA 9165 says.

Meanwhile, Ponteras is expected to lead the launching of Anti-Illegal Drugs 
Special Operation Task Force, a revitalized anti-drug unit of the Negros 
Occidental Police Provincial Office headed by Senior Inspector Calixto 
Mabugat, today, at Camp Alfredo Montelibano Sr. in Bacolod City.

He said the AIDSOTF will focus on the anti-drug campaign in Negros Occidental.
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager