Pubdate: Thu, 09 Oct 2003
Source: Sun.Star Baguio (Philippines)
Copyright: 2003, Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/affiliate.php3?locid=2
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1942
Author: Harley F. Palangchao

DRUG TRADE REPORT IN SCHOOLS 'EXAGGERATED'

THE chief of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the 
Cordilleras Wednesday described as "exaggerated" a news report that 
University of Baguio students are buying almost a kilo of shabu a week from 
pushers.

Supt. Danilo Flordeliza, PDEA-CAR director, said the informant of the 
National Police Comission (Napolcom) could have also been misquoted by 
reporters of national dailies.

But he admitted there are indeed college students in Baguio who are engaged 
in illegal drug trade. "But they are not necessarily students of UB."

"I also cannot discount the fact that some ranking PNP officials are behind 
the illegal drug trade," Flordeliza stressed.

On Tuesday, Councilor Federico Mandapat Jr. urged the PDEA-CAR to look into 
the veracity of reports about shabu trade at UB and within the city's 
university belt.

Mandapat expressed alarm over the report that said that UB students are 
regular clients of drug syndicates being coddled by some high-ranking 
police officials.

A Napolcom informant revealed that if a drug test would be conducted at UB, 
very few students would pass.

UB President Virgilio Bautista condemned the report, saying the informant 
could have mentioned "universities in Baguio" but was reported as 
University of Baguio.

"I cannot also imagine that the Baguio police or the PDEA-CAR would believe 
that students are buying one kilo shabu a week. It is next to impossible. 
The authorities could have reported it to our attention," he added. 
"Besides, the revelation of the informant remains invalid as far as we are 
concern."
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman