Pubdate: Tue, 06 Sep 2005
Source: Manila Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005, The Manila Times
Contact:  http://www.manilatimes.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921
Author:  Harley Palangchao, Northern Luzon Bureau
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

COPS TURN KIDS INTO INFORMANTS

BAGUIO CITY:  The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency has tapped
high-school students as undercover informants after the agency
confirmed that marijuana pushers are targeting high-school students.

Supt. Danilo Flordeliza, PDEA director, confirmed the sale of
marijuana to high-school students during the ceremonial burning of
close to P5-million worth of marijuana at the People's Park Monday
morning.

Flordeliza explained that he saw no violation in tapping selected
students as informants, saying that the war against illegal drugs is
the business not only of law-enforcement agencies but of the whole
community.

He added that reliable tips from their informants have led to the
arrest of suspected marijuana pushers victimizing high-school
students.  Protection will be extended to the informers.

The city council has requested the Baguio City Police to increase the
number of policemen within the university belt to prevent crimes.

PDEA officials said they are validating a news report that marijuana
is becoming a narcotic of choice among drugs users as a result of the
campaign on methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) laboratories over
the past years.

Law-enforcement agencies have shut down around 38 shabu laboratories
since the discovery of a plant in Angeles City in 1997.

A PDEA officer, however, said that shabu use is increasing because it
is more affordable.  Previously, one gram of shabu sold for P2,500,
now is only P2,000 in Manila and other highly-urbanized cities.

PDEA agents and Kalinga policemen have destroyed more than P40-million
worth of marijuana in the hinterlands of Tinglayan.  They failed to
arrest the growers.

The bulk of marijuana supplies comes from the hinterlands of Kalinga,
Benguet, Mountain Province and Ifugao. 
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