Pubdate: Sun, 13 Jul 2003
Source: Sunstar Pangasinan (Philippines)
Copyright: 2003 Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1726
Author: Dino R. Zabala

PDSP JOINS BATTLE V. ILLEGAL DRUGS

THE Partido Demokratiko Sosyalista ng Pilipinas (PDSP) has joined the 
national government in its anti-drug campaign and drive against lawless 
elements.

Juanito "Ka Ani" F. Lagao, provincial chairman of the PDSP, announced on 
Friday that the PDSP aims to help transform the country's society.

"We want it to become a real democratic community committed to the moral 
worth of all Filipinos for the development of individual personalities and 
capabilities," Lagao said.

He said in doing so, the PDSP has decided to join and assist in the mass 
campaign in eradicating and monitoring of lawless elements such as 
terrorism, insurgency and other lawless elements through mass participation 
of PDSP membership in the entire country.

Lagao, who is also the provincial chairman of the two districts of La Union 
province, said though, that his group in the two provinces (Pangasinan and 
La Union) has agreed to focus their campaign in helping solve the rampant 
drugs problem that is now obviously slowly destroying the youths.

"We opted to focus mainly on illegal drugs campaign because we don't put to 
an end to this problem, years from now, there will be no longer individuals 
who we can talk to with a sound mind. Lahat ng tao na gumagamit ng bawal na 
droga ngayon, may posibilidad na pagdating ng panahon, puro na sila mga 
sira-ulo," Lagao pointed out.

He, however, clarified that it is not within their task to apprehend 
illegal drug pushers and users, but rather to only monitor these suspected 
illegal drug traders and users whom they shall report to the authorities 
for proper legal action and disposition.

"In the coming days from now, our provincial group will sit down with the 
concerned law enforcement agencies against illegal drugs and we shall 
properly coordinate with them," said Lagao.

PDSP is a consultative member of the Socialist International represented in 
105 countries, which many of the most progressive countries in the world 
are governed or have governed for a long period, by social democrats 
similar to the PDSP.

In the Philippines, PDSP is a nationwide political party drawn from all 
classes and sectors in the society from workers, fisher-folks, women, 
youth, indigenous communities, urban poor, religious and progressive 
elements among professionals and businessmen.

Some of the salient points and achievements in the history of the PDSP 
established in May 1, 1973 include:

* Undertaking a leading role in the difficult task of establishing and 
expanding a progressive and democratic alternative to the Marcos 
dictatorship and to Marxism-Leninism. It made an important contribution to 
the mass campaigns that eventually led to the people's revolution in 1986 
and the ousting of former President Joseph Estrada in the year 2002

* Helped much to consolidate the newly restored democracy, especially 
through education and mobilization among all sectors and the indigenous 
people of Luzon and Mindanao; and

* Mainly through its members in the people's organization and 
non-government organizations, PDSP has helped much draft socially 
progressive and people laws and government regulations, especially in 
relation to issues and concerns of all sectors of the Philippine society.

Heading the Education Commission of the PDSP is Father Romeo Intingan, S.J. 
(Father Provincial of the Order of Jesuits), while its national chairman is 
Secretary Norberto Gonzales, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's adviser on 
special concerns.

As this developed, Mayor Benjamin S. Lim has permitted Lagao, who is also 
the administrator of Tondaligan Park, to render services to the PDSP 
insofar as the mass campaign is concerned.
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MAP posted-by: Alex