Pubdate: Wed, 09 Mar 2005
Source: Sunstar Pangasinan (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005 Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1726
Author: FPM
Cited: Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency http://www.pdea.gov.ph
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?236 (Corruption - Outside U.S.)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth)

ELEMENTARY PUPILS NOW ALSO VICTIMS OF DRUGS:
PDEA

ELEMENTARY school pupils are now also becoming victims of the illegal
drugs and marijuana, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency (PDEA) based in Pangasinan.

PDEA Provincial Officer Christopher Abrahano said marijuana pushers in
the province have been targeting the elementary school children
because they could easily be influenced.

"Their (drug pushers) modus operandi is to have the children smoke
marijuana first for free until they are addicted to it. It is then
that they will sell the marijuana to the children and even entice them
to sell the drug to their fellow children," he said.

However, Abrahano said they have already deployed PDEA operatives in
big elementary schools and high schools to monitor the drug trade to
students.

Recently, the Lingayen police caught a third year high school student
of the Pangasinan School of Arts and Trade selling marijuana inside
the school campus.

The PDEA provincial officer said they are also conducting
counter-intelligence to monitor their fellow policemen who are
suspected involved in illegal drugs.

Abrahano said the police have been still conducting random drug test
among policemen.

"We are also monitoring members of the counter-intelligence team to
determine who among them are leaking out information to drug pushers,"
he said.

He said anyone found collaborating with the drug syndicates would be
dismissed from the service and would be charged in court.
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