Pubdate: Wed, 12 Oct 2005
Source: Manila Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005, The Manila Times
Contact:  http://www.manilatimes.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921
Author: Isagani P. Palma, Correspondent
Cited: US JIATFW http://www.pacom.mil/staff/jiatfwest/index.shtml
Cited: US Drug Enforcement Administration http://www.dea.gov
Cited: Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency http://www.pdea.gov.ph

US TO BUILD 3 ANTI-DRUG CENTERS

GENERAL SANTOS CITY: The United Sates will select three regions in the
country to construct multimillion-worth US-Maritime Drug Enforcement
Coordinating Center satellite stations.

Chief Insp. Jessie Estrada, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
regional director for Central Mindanao, said the center will help the
Philippines enhance its monitoring system specifically in the
proliferation of prohibited drugs from foreign countries.

He said the United States Drug Enforcement Agency and Joint
Inter-Agency Task Force West had asked assistance from the drug agency
to scout the strategic locations for building satellite stations in
General Santos City, Davao City and Appari.

The US-DEA had chosen Cagayan Valley, Northern and Central Mindanao
due to their geographical location suitable in putting up satellite
offices equipped with high-tech apparatus that could detect illegal
drugs.  Construction of the building is targeted to commence early
next year.

"The satellite stations will be furnished with radars and other
sophisticated equipments that would detect the presence of drugs even
at the high seas," Estrada told The Manila Times yesterday.

Senior Supt. Ager Ontog Jr., PDEA central office intelligence and
investigation director, has ordered Estrada to find at least three
favorable locations to be presented for the USDEA.  It is up to the US
government to choose the best, Ontog said in a memorandum.

Senior Supt. Alfredo Toroctocon, city police director, said the coming
of the US antidrug monitoring center will be a "bad news" for drug
traffickers not only in the city but throughout Southern and Central
Mindanao.

"We are expecting that it is not only the small ones, but also the big
fishes giving protection on the illegal drug trade that will soon be
demolished," Toroctocon said during a huddle with newsmen in Camp
Fermin Lira. 
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