Pubdate: Tue, 08 Feb 2005
Source: Manila Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005, The Manila Times
Contact:  http://www.manilatimes.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921
Author: William Depasupil
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Rodrigo+Duterte
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

BI, DAVAO CITY GOVT JOIN FORCES VS. CRIME

THE Bureau of Immigration and the Davao City government are joining
forces to go after foreign terrorists and drug syndicates attempting
to use Davao City as their base.

Immigration Commissioner Alipio Fernandez Jr. told reporters on Monday
that he and Mayor Rodrigo Duterte of Davao City have agreed to combine
their resources in hunting down foreigners involved in terrorism and
the illegal drug trade.

Fernandez and Duterte forged the agreement in the wake of the recent
discovery of a big clandestine shabu laboratory in Davao, which was
believed to be operated by Chinese nationals.

Six Chinese-looking persons were killed in the raid and 10 more were
arrested in follow-up operations.

Those arrested, all Chinese, were also believed to be linked with a
syndicate that operated a separate shabu laboratory that was raided in
Dumoy, Toril, Davao City.

Fernandez also cited the bombing of the Davao airport and the city's
wharf in March and April 2003, respectively, which killed 22 people
and injured more than 150.

The twin bombings were later blamed on the Abu Sayyaf, which has links
with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network and the Jemaah Islamiah.

Under the memorandum of understanding, Fernandez and Duterte agreed to
establish a joint mechanism for verifying, investigating, prosecuting
and eventually deporting foreigners whose presence in the city are
inimical to national peace and security.

They also agreed to share information on the activities of suspected
drug lords and terrorists, including their coddlers.

To effectively monitor the presence of aliens, the city government
pledged to assist the immigration bureau in facilitating the
registration of all foreigners in Davao and to report their movements
in and out of the city.

Duterte also promised to mobilize his barangay officials in the
campaign against illegal drugs and terrorism, particularly in
gathering information and reporting the presence of aliens in their
areas. 
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