Pubdate: Fri, 20 Aug 2004 Source: Manila Times (Philippines) Copyright: 2004, The Manila Times Contact: http://www.manilatimes.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921 Author: Jun Elias and Leilanie G. Adriano, Northern Luzon Bureau Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine) NEW PNP CHIEF WANTS PRIESTS AS DRUG BUSTERS SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union-Barely two days before Malacanang's announcement of his appointment as the new chief of the Philippine National Police, PNP Deputy Director General Edgardo Aglipay did a swing of Northern Luzon on an urgent mission. He suggested the clergy should not only be shepherds of their flock, but also be drug busters. Aglipay flew here on Tuesday, the last stop in his itinerary and briefed all priests in the province, headed by diocesan administrator Fr. Samuel Banayat Jr., on the progress and failures of the ongoing nationwide campaign against illegal drugs. Aglipay delivered the same message earlier in Cagayan Valley and in Laoag, Ilocos Norte. "The Catholic Church is a sleeping giant who can help us [police] a lot in our campaign of eradicating illegal drugs. The Church has a credible influence on the country's population of almost 80 percent," Aglipay explained. He said that in 1972, there were only 20,000 illegal drug users. By 1998, the number has soared to 3.4 million. Users have since risen to a "very alarming" 8 and 10 million. Aglipay reported that from June 2003 to June 2004, the Anti-Illegal Drug Special Operation Task Force (Aidsoft) he headed confiscated P25-billion worth of mainly shabu and also dismantled 25 illegal drug laboratories and warehouses. Some 239 drug groups, six of them international syndicates, have been smashed. The task force also seized real properties worth P250 million allegedly financed with drug money. Some of the properties have now been turned into drug rehabilitation centers. Of the 35,514 people arrested for illegal drugs the cases of 17,516 cases have been filed in court. Aglipay said 5,334 drug affected barangays have been cleared while 43 drug lords, mostly from China, were arrested. But Aglipay also admitted that at least one percent of the 113,000-strong national police is involved in illegal drugs, 308 of whom were already arrested. He said the task force assigned personnel to concentrate mainly on policemen suspected of involvement in drugs. Aglipay detailed units to look for drug laboratories, drug lords and pushers. Despite those achievements, he acknowledged that the country's drug problem has become "very alarming" because most of the reported users are young and some of them are using it on a daily basis. He described marijuana as a "gateway drug" while the effects of other illegal drugs, like shabu, could be linked directly to mental illness, unwanted pregnancies and accidents among others. "We appeal for your help to clear our police. Help inspire the PNP, please pray for us and help us in our campaign against illegal drugs," Aglipay told the priests and community leaders. In his response, Banayat promised to help surmount the problem by working through continuous information dissemination regarding the ill effects of illegal drugs. "The diocese will really help and we will give our full support and cooperation to eradicate illegal drugs. We will disseminate the ill effects of drugs in our diocesan schools, youth organizations, to the Parish Pastoral Council and to the ecclesiastical communities," he said. Aglipay said he asked permission from the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines to conduct briefings and consultations with the clergy throughout the country regarding the drug menace.