Pubdate: Mon, 12 Sep 2005
Source: People's Journal (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 People's Journal
Contact: http://www.journal.com.ph/contactus.asp
Website: http://www.journal.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3381
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ASIAN DRUGS SUMMIT OPENS

PUERTO Princesa City - Some 400 international anti-drugs specialists
and chief executives of Asian cities renew their united campaign
against drug abuse when the 2nd Asian Cities Against Drugs (ASCAD)
Summit unfolds in this city today.

The four-day regional anti-drugs summit is organized by the Colombo
Plan Drug Advisory Program and will focus on the theme "Asian Cities
Against Drugs from Conceptualization to Implementation."

As of yesterday, the following countries have confirmed attendance at
the conference: Malaysia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh,
Afghanistan, India, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Nepal, Maldives
and the United States.

Douglas Hagedorn, chief of the city's Drug Enforcement Action Division
or Task Force DEAD and elder brother of the city mayor, said the city
was chosen as the venue of the conference because of its success in
eradicating the drug menace in less than two years.

"Puerto Princesa City holds the distinction of being one of the
country's local government units that has been declared
"drug-syndicate free" as its unrelenting campaign against drug dealers
and pushers virtually rid the city of this major international problem
in record time," Hagedorn said.

Task Force DEAD, organized in January 2003, seized more than P2
million worth of shabu in less than a year. It also arrested and
successfully prosecuted 160 drug pushers.

Mayor Edward Hagedorn attributed the city's success in its drive
against drugs to political will and the people's cooperation.
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