Pubdate: Sun, 26 Jun 2005
Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines)
Contact:  http://www.mb.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
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PDEA DESTROYS P40 B WORTH OF ILLEGAL DRUGS, DISMANTLES 32 SHABU LABS

Despite its meager budget, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
(PDEA) claimed to have been "quite successful" in its anti-drug drive
as it managed to destroy some P40 billion worth of illegal drugs and
dismantled 32 shabu laboratories in a span of only three years.

The PDEA director general, Undersecretary Anselmo Avenido Jr., also
revealed that with their relentless campaign against illegal drugs,
the syndicates are now looking for sources and markets outside the
country while some have returned to peddling marijuana.

"They (the drug syndicates) have returned to peddling shabu because
they found out that some shabu were diluted or fake," Avenido
explained during the weekly Meet the Press forum organized by the
National Press Club and the Mega Manila Bay Press Club.

Avenido said that when the PDEA was established on July 30, 2002, its
standby fund was only P150 million from the Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes Office.

This could be the reason why, despite the passage of Republic Act 3165
creating the PDEA as the lead government agency in anti-illegal drugs
campaign, his (Avenido's) efforts may not be enough, conceded
Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Director General Dionisio Santiago.

Valenzuela City Vice Mayor Tony Espiritu noted that there is an urgent
need to assist the PDEA in its battle against illegal drugs.

He suggested to the Anti-Drug Council in his city allocate at least
one percent of its budget for the PDEA agents operating in the local
level.

Avenido also lauded the formation of Anti-Drug Councils in various
Metro Manila cities, particularly in Makati and Mandaluyong City.
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