Pubdate: Fri, 23 Jul 2004
Source: Manila Standard (Philippines)
Copyright: 2004 Manila Standard
Contact:  http://www.manilastandardonline.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3450
Author: Joel Locsin

METRO COPS TO FOCUS ON DRUGS

After President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo delivers her State of the Nation 
address on July 26, police in Metro Manila will likely focus on drugs and 
tourist protection, said Metro Manila police chief Ricardo de Leon.

"Our likely headache after the Sona will be drugs, though street crimes 
have gone down," De Leon said in a radio interview.

He added that the political tension involving the electoral protest of 
Fernando Poe Jr. has cooled down somewhat, along with the abduction of 
truck driver Angelo de la Cruz.

With these developments, he said militant groups are no longer likely to 
hold almost-daily protest actions, especially for De la Cruz.

Militant groups had held protest actions in Manila and Quezon City in past 
weeks for De la Cruz, calling on government to withdraw its humanitarian 
troops from Iraq.

"The situation has already cooled down, so we focused on tourists. But 
because of the Sona, we had to pull out some of our tourist police to deal 
with protesters. After that, they will go back to guarding tourist spots," 
De Leon said.

The drug problem became apparent again after the Western Police District 
discovered a methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) warehouse-cum-laboratory 
in Manila last July 17.

WPD spokesperson Chief Insp. Gerry Agunod said the warehouse may be used by 
the same group behind a shabu laboratory police found in Valenzuela City 
last weekend.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart