Pubdate: Thu, 10 Jul 2003
Source: Sunstar Manila (Philippines)
Copyright: 2003, Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2304
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines (Philippines)

BIAZON ON NAMING OF DRUG LORDS: FILE CHARGES FIRST

SEN. Rodolfo Biazon, vice chairman of the Senate committee on national
defense, has urged police authorities not to disclose in public the
names of big-time drug lords if the objective is just to gain media
hype.

According to Biazon, drug enforcers should initially file charges
against the suspected drug lords and only when there is enough
evidence should their names be divulged.

"I would advise against this releasing of the names of suspected drug
lords and drug pushers if this is going to be intended to be a media
gimmick to raise media hype on the anti-drug campaign and end up not
filling cases in court," Biazon said in a press conference Wednesday.

He said naming the drug lords as well as their protectors is
insufficient to solve the drug problem in the country.

It can be recalled that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has
identified at least 26 big-time drug lords in the country who are on
the watch list of police enforcers.

Biazon stressed that in order for the government to be effective in
its anti-drug campaign, it should first confirm the activities of
these syndicates, build up credible evidence and file appropriate
charges as soon as possible.

"The quality of evidence gathered by our law enforcement agencies
would result to a higher conviction rate, which is the desired result
of the campaign," the senator added.

He said releasing the names of suspected drug lords and pushers may be
a good strategy to gain publicity, but it will not help the anti-drug
campaign especially if it does not result in the filing of charges in
court. 
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin