Pubdate: Fri, 13 Aug 2004
Source: Today (Philippines)
Copyright: 2004 Today
Contact:  http://www.today.net.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3458
Author: Jimmy Perez, Today Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)

ALARM RAISED OVER NARC AGENTS' ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES

Veteran narcotics officials are alarmed by the rising number of antidrugs 
lawmen being involved in illegal activities, it was learned Thursday.

"If they themselves are taking advantage of their position to further their 
personal agenda, then it is logical to assume that the Malacanang-inspired 
all-out war against illegal drugs may not realize its goal," the group, 
composed of veterans narcotics authorities said on condition of anonymity.

Even some National Bureau of Investigation officials noted successive 
arrests of policemen who preyed on suspected drug pushers through big-time 
extortion racket. On several occasions, they also ended up charged not only 
with extortion but also the nonbailable offense of kidnapping as a result 
of illegally detaining their victims until after a ransom is paid.

The latest to fall were five agents of the most powerful antidrug unit in 
the country -- Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) -- who were 
arrested by the National Anti-kidnapping Task Force (Naktf) under former 
defense chief Angelo Reyes in Makati last Tuesday.

The NBI officials said this is alarming and there should be a strict 
scrutiny of those who will be absorbed by any antidrugs task force in its 
operating unit.

"The lure of making big bucks through extra judicial means is very 
tempting. They have the power and therefore it is just a matter of 
political will on the part of the arresting team, in this case the Naktf, 
to bring into the open their illegal activity. Otherwise, they would be 
feasting in the guise of legitimate operations," they said.

Elsewhere, the same cases involving the same racket by anti-drugs policemen 
have been observed, hinting of a possible widespread malpractice by those 
tasked to rid the society of banned substances.

Newspaper reports are replete with stories of policemen who were either 
arrested for alleged involvement in illegal drug sting operations.

The latest most serious charge of alleged involvement of senior narcotics 
officials was the report that an arrested big-time Taiwa-nese drug 
trafficker had dropped the names of PDEA chief Anselmo Avenido and his deputy.

"Illegal drugs is one big source of easy money. The temptation is such that 
it will take a lot of discipline on the part of certain authorities to 
reject it," the NBI officials said.

They suggested that a special court should be created which would mete the 
harshest of punishment against violators.

Relatedly, PDEA denied on Thursday that the five alleged PDEA operatives 
who were linked to kidnapping activities are not in its roster.

In a statement, acting PDEA director Bernardo Bondoc said the suspects 
identified as Elmer Avacena, Nolasco Taytay, Jaime Poloco, Gil Grefaidso 
and Erik Nazareno are not connected in any way with the agency.

The five alleged PDEA agents along with Geroso Jarmalin of the Bureau of 
Fire Protection were arrested on Wednesday by the National Antikidnapping 
Task Force after the suspects allegedly abducted Rizaldo Policarpio in 
Makati City last August 1 and demanded a P150,000 ransom.

For his part, former PDEA official Reynaldo Jaylo vehemently denied that 
the arrested individuals were members of Task Force Hunter, which was then 
headed by Jaylo.

The task force had been disbanded when Jaylo was appointed chief of the 
Presidential Anti-Illegal Recruitment Task Force.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D