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. - ---