Pubdate: Tue, 20 Mar 2007
Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines)
Contact:  http://www.mb.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906
Author: Ben R. Rosario

SOTTO PRODS US TO HELP THE NATION COMBAT DRUGS

ILOILO CITY -- Former senator Vicente "Tito" Sotto III of the Team 
Unity senatorial slate yesterday said the US government's inability 
to help its allies combat drug trafficking was one of the reasons why 
drug abuse remains a top dilemma of American law enforcement agencies 
in their country.

Sotto said that instead of blaming the Philippines and other 
countries for its worsening narcotics problem, the Bush 
administration should consider extending help to other governments in 
fighting their own drug war.

Sotto, principal author of the Dangerous Drug Code of the Philippines 
and an anti-drug abuse advocate, said the US government should send 
to the country modern anti-smuggling air- and watercraft to help the 
Philippine Coast Guard block drug smugglers from making the country a 
stopover for drugs smuggled to the US.

"They have been calling the Philippines a transshipment territory for 
illegal drugs in the US. Instead of throwing insults at us, Americans 
should help us help their people hooked on drugs, especially the 
youth," the former senator said.

He added: "The PCG has only about a dozen watercraft assigned to 
guard the coast lines of the country's 7,100 islands. This fact, Mr. 
Bush should consider."

Although Sotto believes that the US government is sincere in its war 
on drug trafficking, it has not taken any strong effort to determine 
the most effective solutions to win.

"The Philippine government can effectively help in this area if it 
has enough weapons against drug traffickers. If they believe we are 
the transshipment venue, then they should arm our law enforcement 
agencies to bust them," he said

Unlike the Philippines, the US has enough weapons, aircraft and water 
craft built specifically to stop drug traffickers from entering their 
territory, Sotto said.

The Bush government should send the Philippines similar drug-fighting 
equipment, he said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman