Pubdate: Mon, 19 Jan 2004
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer (Philippines)
Contact  http://www.inquirer.net/
Copyright: 2004 Philippine Daily Inquirer
Author: Gil Cabacungan and Edson Tandoc Jr.

MACAPAGAL TRAINS SIGHTS ON FOREIGN DRUG PUSHERS

COMING out of successive victories against local drug manufacturers and 
traffickers, President Macapagal-Arroyo now vows to stop foreign drug lords 
from further setting a foothold in the country.

In a statement, Ms Macapagal said, "Foreign drug lords will be given no 
quarter in the Philippines."

"We have dismantled our 18th drug laboratory and more will fall as we sweep 
the barangay of pushers," said the President.

Ms Macapagal said her anti-narcotics campaign had led to a shortage in 
illegal drugs as indicated by the tripling in the street price of illegal 
drugs.

"We will push it higher by curtailing the supply," she vowed.

The President noted that the anti-drug campaign had resulted in a sharp 
drop in the number of drug-related crimes.

This developed as Valenzuela City signed a memorandum of agreement with the 
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for an enhanced anti-drug drive 
in the city.

City police chief Jose Marcelo told the Inquirer that while the illegal 
drug trade in the city had been reduced, continued drug use in remote areas 
were still rife.

His disclosure was reinforced by an informal survey by the Pamantasan ng 
Lungsod ng Valenzuela in December that showed residents identifying drug 
addiction as a key problem in the city.

The survey, which questioned 2,000 residents, was conducted by students and 
teachers of the National Service Training Program of the college.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman