Pubdate: Tue, 21 Dec 2004
Source: Philippine Star (Philippines)
Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2004
Contact:  http://www.philstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622
Author: Paolo Romero

LAWMAKERS GO AFTER NEGLIGENT DRUGBUSTERS

Administration lawmakers sought yesterday the immediate prosecution and 
imprisonment of negligent police officers responsible for the escape of 
suspected Chinese drug trafficker Li Zhong as they called for a stricter 
enforcement of the anti-drug law which provides for a 20-year jail term on 
those bungling drug cases.

Cebu City Rep. Antonio Cuenco and Eastern Samar Rep. Marcelino Libanan 
expressed disgust over the latest setback in government efforts to 
prosecute big time drug traffickers with Zhong's escape from the Philippine 
Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) detention cell in Quezon City before dawn 
Saturday.

"It is not enough that negligent law enforcers are relieved. Our present 
law on drugs penalizes bungling of drug cases with 20 years in jail. What 
is needed is strict law enforcement," Cuenco said.

Libanan said the escape of drug traffickers diminishes the gains made by 
the government in its all out war against illegal drugs as he called for 
the prosecution of those who have worked for the escape of drug traffickers.

"It's time we prosecute law enforcers who bungle drug cases. Plain relief 
is not enough, they should be imprisoned. They are a disgrace to the police 
institution whose image has been tainted for years by corrupt and scalawag 
cops like them," he said.

He called on the PNP operatives to do their best in recapturing Zhong.

"It is utterly disgusting that his escape happened after the headways we 
gained in the anti-drug war these recent months," he said.

Cuenco, former chairman of the House committee on dangerous drugs, said 
Zhong's escape shows that Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous 
Drugs Act of 2002, which penalizes those bungling drug cases like negligent 
law enforcers, is not strictly enforced.

He said PDEA Director Anselmo Avenido Jr. himself acknowledged that Zhong 
alias James Mian, could have been allowed to escape by his jail guards 
since he could not have squeezed through a small opening for an exhaust fan.

Avenido has already placed under technical arrest Chief Inspector Dante 
Gacadan, officer-in-charge of the Custodial Group, along with Police Officer 2

Rolando Duazo ordered the imprisonment of Police Officer 2 Frederick 
Placido, the guard-on-duty when Zhong escaped.

Libanan said the PDEA's intensified drug operations neutralized eight of 
the targeted 17 international drug rings and 191 out of 344 local drug 
syndicates as of June this year.

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) raised the alert yesterday at the 
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) following the escape of the 
Chinese drug suspect last Saturday.

BI-NAIA Supervisor Ferdinand Sampol said they have tightened security at 
the airport even if a no hold departure order (HDO) has been issued by the 
court against Zhong. -- With Sandy Araneta
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MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager