Pubdate: Wed, 30 Mar 2005
Source: Manila Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2005, The Manila Times
Contact:  http://www.manilatimes.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921
Author: Ma. Theresa Torres
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

ILLEGAL DRUGS BIGGEST HEADACHE FOR GOVT

ILLEGAL drugs remain as the leading destroyer of lives in the
Philippines with a total of 3.3 million regular and occasional users
from age 25 to 34, the National Security Council was told Tuesday.

Briefing the council, the Interior and Local Government Secretary
Angelo T. Reyes said 1.8 million are regular users of illegal drugs;
1.6 million are occasional users, and that these users belong mostly
to the lower socioeconomic classes.

DILG data also showed that foreigners dominate illegal drug
trafficking.

The police have arrested and charged 168 foreigners and confiscated
5.9 tons of illegal drugs; 36 laboratories have been dismantled.

The problem of illegal drugs aside, Reyes reported a 9-percent
decrease in crime from 83,704 in 2003 to 77, 253 in 2004.

Reyes also noted a decrease in kidnappings from 120 in 1988 to 29 in
2004.

He proposed the clustering of municipal jails or putting up an
integrated jail facility outside urban centers to decongest current
prisons.

Present during the NSC meeting were President Arroyo, former
Presidents Fidel V. Ramos and Corazon C. Aquino, Vice President Noli
de Castro, Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, the Philippine National
Police chief, Director General Arturo Lomibao, and the Armed Forces
chief, Gen. Efren Abu. 
- ---