Pubdate: Sun, 27 Feb 2005
Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines)
Contact:  http://www.mb.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906
Author: Hannah L. Torregoza
Cited: Philippine National Police http://www.pnp.gov.ph
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/meth.htm (Methamphetamine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

POLICE THEMSELVES MAY BE PROBLEM IN CAMPAIGN
AGAINST ILLEGAL DRUGS

Battle Becoming More Serious Due to Cop Abuse - De Leon

The recent discovery of shabu laboratories in industrialized areas in Metro 
Manila has sent warning signals all the way from Malacanang. But the drug 
problem has never been successfully pursued and prosecuted.

The reason: Some of those in the ranks are involved in the illegal drugs 
trade themselves.

In the recent press launch of the book "Community Policing," Philippine 
National Police Deputy Director Ricardo de Leon said the police's lack of 
transparency in conducting investigation has impeded the exposure of "big 
fishes" in the drug trade.

As a result, prosecutions of illegal drug manufacturers are pushed to the 
sidelines while victims virtually become entangled in the dangerous net of 
drugs.

"The battle against drugs is becoming more serious because police abuse is 
present. If we want the campaign against illegal drugs to prosper, each 
station should employ a complete reorientation," De Leon said.

De Leon, head of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force 
(AID-SOTF), said heads of agencies handling high profile crimes should take 
more positive action to avoid corruption to breed.

"The coordination between the cops and the local government units is 
essential. In the first place, illegal drugs is not only the police's 
dilemma but the mayors' as well," De Leon said.

The anti-drug chief added that preventive education should be taught to 
school children as young as eight years old to develop among teenagers a 
strong resistance against negative influences like peer pressure that may 
lead them to use prohibited drugs.

"In a country which has very limited rehabilitation facilities, schools and 
families should be aware of the destructive result of being hooked. This is 
where community policing must enter. Cops should start consolidating an 
anti-drug abuse program for all," De Leon said.

De Leon said the justice system in the country would not work if police 
failed to harness community participation.

"Before the justice system can work, the community must first believe in 
the system," he said.

The AID-SOTF chief revealed that at least 3.4 million Filipinos are drug 
users, with 1.6 million regular users while 1.8 million are occasional 
users. Though the statistics were based in 1999, De Leon said the numbers 
are expected to increase.
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