Pubdate: Mon, 21 Jul 2008
Source: Sun.Star Baguio (Philippines)
Copyright: 2008, Sunstar
Contact:  http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/bag/2005/02/27/index.html
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1942

PDEA MARKS ANNIVERSARY

IN COMMEMORATING its creation six years ago, the  Philippine Drug 
Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional  office acknowledged the role the 
community has played  since its creation.

This, as Chief Inspector Edgar Apalla,  officer-in-charge (OIC) of 
the PDEA regional office in  the Cordillera, pointed to the need of 
improving the  delivery of drug law enforcement services brought 
about the enactment of Republic Act (RA) 9165, which was  approved by 
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on June  7, 2002 and took effect on 
July 4 the same year.

"This led to the abolition of the National Drug Law  Enforcement and 
Prevention Coordinating Center, the  Philippine National Police 
Narcotics Group, the  National Bureau of Investigation Narcotics Unit 
and the  Customs Narcotics Interdiction Office; and paved the  way 
for the organization and activation of the PDEA to  pursue more 
concrete courses of action for the national  anti-drug campaign, and 
to operate for and ensure the  imposition of heavier penalties to 
drug offenders," he  said.

Apalla explained in its campaign to promote a lasting  drug-free 
society in the Cordillera, "the fledgling  PDEA-Cordillera 
Administrative Region (CAR) experienced  situations on various times 
that carried it into the  limelight with its successes and also some 
failures,  yet it never faltered."

He said with the help of Cordillera officials and  residents, "our 
unit continued to stand conscious of  its delicate mission of 
implementing the new anti-drug  law, of eliminating supply and demand 
of dangerous  drugs, of preventing and controlling drug-related 
crimes, and of providing a drug-free Cordillera".

After six years of existence, Apalla said the PDEA-CAR  continues to 
withstand the test of time. It constantly  met the demands of the 
toughest challenges of the  changing times with renewed vigor and resiliency.

Up to now, he said, it continuously stands firm on the  ground in the 
effort to uphold its mandate of serving  the Cordillera people and 
protecting its youths.

"This regional unit is one with the PDEA national  office in ensuring 
the agency lives up to the Filipino  people's expectation," Apalla added. (ENO)
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom