Pubdate: Fri, 18 Feb 2005
Source: Mindanao Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Mindanao Times.
Contact:  http://www.mindanaotimes.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2980
Author: Jowel F. Canuday, MindaNews
Cited: US Drug Enforcement Administration http://www.dea.gov
Cited: Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency http://www.pdea.gov.ph
Cited: Philippine National Police http://www.pnp.gov.ph
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Rodrigo+Duterte

ENVOY LINKS DRUG TRADE TO TERRORISM

DAVAO CITY (MindaNews) - So-called terrorists need money obtained from drug 
trafficking and are making use of corrupt law enforcers in running the 
illegal drug trade, United States Ambassador Francis Ricciardone, Jr. 
declared in yesterday's closing ceremonies of a joint RP-US counter-drug 
enforcers training at the Philippine Public Safety College Regional 
Training School here where he was the guest speaker.

Ricciardone said terrorism and the drug problem are areas that President 
Arroyo wanted Philippine and US law enforcers to improve on.

Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, in his speech that was unusually less critical 
towards US policy, agreed with Ricciardone that corruption of law enforcers 
was getting in the way of an effective anti-drug campaign.

"Apparently along the way in the system of law, there seems to be a 
(mockery)... I'd like to be brutally frank with you, it is corruption," 
Duterte told police and Army trainees who graduated from the training.

The mayor however said he does not have the "slightest doubt about the 
sincerity, the dedication of PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) and 
Philippine National Police."

He suggested that drug-related cases of corruption should be considered as 
acts of treason. He noted that under the Revised Penal Code treason is a 
crime that could "only be committed during wartime."

"But the fact that we are fighting a scourge of mankind, a new one during 
our generation - terrorism - I believe and I dare say that if you turn your 
back against your country, I would accuse you guilty of high treason," he said.

Ricciardone said the US government is committed to extend their assistance 
"anytime" Duterte sees "a way that we can help you or any national 
officials of the (police) in strengthening the rule of law."

The drug enforcement training was held under the auspices of the RP-US 
Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) and the Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT). Dubbed 
the "Baker Piston 05-1 Counter Drug Mission," it included 65 trainees from 
the police, the Army and PDEA agents.

The training covered skills advancement in rifle and pistol marksmanship, 
advanced combat lifesaver, patrolling techniques, building entry 
techniques, clandestine lab safety procedures and Philippine legal issues 
and human rights awareness.

On the Philippine side, the training was organized by the Armed Forces, the 
Philippine National Police and PDEA. The American participants included 
personnel from the US Department of Defense Joint Interagency Task Force 
West and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

Duterte meanwhile, while brushing off observations he was avoiding 
Ricciardone, displayed a different body language.

He did not immediately approach the ambassador who arrived a few minutes 
earlier at the police training center. He stayed outside the center's 
activity hall and only went inside when an aide told him the program was 
about to start.

On the stage, Duterte shook Ricciardone's hands but did not sit beside the 
ambassador as the organizers had wanted.

"Mr. Mayor, I'm at your service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Sir," the 
diplomat told the mayor, a known critic of RP-US joint military exercises 
and other US policies.

But the deferential statement apparently failed to change Duterte's icy 
attitude towards the diplomat.

Balikatan

In an interview with the media after Ricciardone's speech, Duterte said 
that he too is of service "25 hours" a day in the fight against the drug 
menace and terrorism but did not say anything critical towards US policy in 
the country and in Mindanao.

In the past, the mayor had repeatedly declared his opposition to RP-US 
military exercises dubbed "Balikatan," which are also covered by the VFA 
and the MDT. He said the conduct (of Balikatan) has implications on the 
country's sovereignty, the Constitutional provision renouncing war as an 
instrument of national policy and on the peace and security situation in 
the island.

When the Balikatan was held in Zamboanga City in 2002 and in Carmen, North 
Cotabato in August last year - the latter a small-scale version - Duterte 
said he would never allow US troops participating in these trainings to 
land or stay here for rest and recreation.

Duterte's icy relationship with US diplomats became more pronounced after a 
team of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents whisked out of the 
city and eventually of the country US national Michael Meiring, 67, who was 
the lone victim and suspect in an explosion that occurred in is room at the 
Evergreen Hotel here on May 16, 2002.

Police investigators noted that Meiring was keeping a metal box that 
contained explosives which reportedly caused the incident.

Charges of illegal possession of ammunition and reckless imprudence 
resulting to damage to property were filed against the American but Duterte 
said the former should be charged for arson, too, for burning a portion of 
the hotel.

The mayor publicly called on the US government to extradite the suspect so 
he could face charges here but no answer has been given.

In his speech yesterday morning however, Duterte made no mention of Meiring 
or his criticism of US government activities in Mindanao and in the country.

Instead, Duterte thanked US instructors in the anti-drug training. He said 
local law enforcers need the skills imparted including techniques in 
evidence protection, crime prevention, suppression and solution in the 
fight against the drug problem, the centerpiece of his administration's 
program.

He later told the media that he has not actually avoided the likes of 
Ricciardone because of his critical stance towards US policies. He claimed 
that the story was made up by reporters, adding he attended the event 
simply because he was available.
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