PRESIDENT Macapagal-Arroyo has approved the designation of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chairman Anselmo S. Avenido Jr. as the new permanent head of the Dangerous Drugs Board. Avenido's position gives him the Cabinet rank of a Secretary tasked to oversee the operations of the PDEA. He will be replaced at the drug enforcement agency by retired Armed Forces chief Dionisio Santiago. Santiago, the erswhile executive director of the DDB, will be replaced by retired police general Edgar Galvante. All three are graduates of the elite Philippine Military Academy. [continues 195 words]
MORE known drug havens in Metro Manila and other parts of the country similar to the one smashed in Pasig City last week will be the target of a massive operation by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police this year, officials announced yesterday. PDEA chair Anselmo S. Avenido, Jr. called anew on the public to help by providing information on drug sites. The PDEA's Oplan Private Eye offers a reward to drug informers. PNP chief Director General Arturo C. Lomibao said any drug-related information can be sent through PNP Txt 2920 or Patrol 117. PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force commander Director Marcelo S. Ele Jr. said concerned citizens may also go directly to their headquarters in Camp Crame or call telephone no. 7221918 or 7230401 local 5671. [continues 186 words]
POLICE officials yesterday reiterated that the demolition of at least 53 shanties converted into shabu dens in Pasig City weakened their cases against 377 people arrested during the raid last week and warned corrupt local and police officials may face the penalty of death for coddling drug dealers. "We believe that Pasig City Mayor (Vicente) Eusebio was ill-advised on this matter. This will boomerang on him," said an official of the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force who spoke on condition of anynomity. [continues 343 words]
SOME of the suspects arrested when police raided the shabu colony in Pasig City face the death penalty if found guilty of using minors as drug couriers. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chair Anselmo S. Avenido, Jr. said some of the 377 people detained last week face penalties ranging from death to life imprisonment and a minimum of six months rehabilitation. Director Mareclo Ele, Jr., commander of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force said 167 of those arrested tested positive for use of either shabu or marijuana and were charged with drug use, 129 for visiting a drug den, 28 for maintenance of a drug den, 28 for possession of illegal drugs, 23 for constructive possession of drug paraphernalia, and two for drug pushing. Two others were charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition. [continues 100 words]
PDEA Agents Axed For Sleeping On Job? PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency chief Undesecretary Anselmo S. Avenido, Jr. yesterday ordered the relief of his entire Eastern District anti-illegal drugs team for their failure to detect the "shabu flea market" raided by police last Friday in Pasig City. Avenido identified the axed PDEA agents as SPO2 Arsenio Gregorio, Jr., team leader; SPO2 Oscar Rudas; SPO1 Tomas Calicdan; PO3 Elionito Aptuhan; PO2 Celino Sumauang; and PO2 Ramir Policarpio. Their replacements have yet to be named. [continues 370 words]
WESTERN Mindanao police commander Chief Supt. Prospero C. Noble, Jr. yesterday turned the tables on his accusers from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency as he denied charges that he was protecting a suspected drug lord. "I am ready to face any charges stemming from the said drug bust. But I am denying their charges against me. I am the father of all policemen in Western Mindanao and it is but proper for me to correct wrongs being done by my children especially when they are lying in front of me," the Police Regional Office 9 director told the People's Journal in a telephone interview. [continues 264 words]
POLICE are monitoring more drug havens in Metro Manila similar to the "shabu tiyangge" smashed Friday in an operation that netted more than 500 suspects and two kilos of the drug, assorted paraphernalia and two guns. "There are some similar places in the metropolis being watched by my men and we will launch appropriate action as soon as we have gathered enough evidence and witnesses," said Director Marcelo S. Ele, Jr., commander of the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force. [continues 307 words]
A ROOKIE policeman was killed Tuesday night in a gun duel with a fellow cop detailed with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Mabini, Batangas. Police reports said the protagonists and several other PDEA colleagues were having a drinking session at the house of one Ariel Villanueva at Barangay Sto. Tomas when they were drawn into a heated argument. The two pulled out their guns and shot each other. PO1 Joel Cosme died on the spot while the woundedPO1 Nelson Mariano, who tried to escape, was arrested by the Mabini police. [continues 68 words]
A TOTAL of P7.32 million was given last year by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to informants who provided highly-reliable tips that led to the neutralization of a number of drug laboratories and warehouses and big-time drug traffickers, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chairman Anselmo S. Avenido Jr. announced yesterday. Avenido also clarified reports that the PDEA Operation: Private Eye has been the subject of complaints from the tipsters. He said President Macapagal-Arroyo knows where the money goes since the PDEA is regularly updating her on the progress of the reward system. Operation: Private Eye is the PDEA's rewards and incentives scheme to encourage the citizenry to provide information that would lead to the recovery of illegal drugs and arrest of illegal drug personalities. [end]
GOVERNMENT officials have recommended the conversion of marijuana fields in the Cordilleras into "Yakon" farms as they vowed to provide farm-to-market roads for easy access for their produce, a top police official said yesterday. "Yakon" is a sturdy rootcrop which can easily be planted, maintained, harvested and marketed since it does not wither like a vegetable or a flower. Known for its medicinal effect, the rootcrop already has a large following in Japan, United States and Europe. It is now being sold in some markets in Metro Manila and the provinces. [continues 266 words]
THE police started a massive marijuana eradication drive targeting more than 100 cannabis plantations in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. "We are embarking on a massive anti-marijuana drive with the foremost idea of educating people on planting alternative crops that can augment their livelihood," said Director Marcelo S. Ele, Jr., commander of the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force. Ele, in a report to PNP chief Director General Arturo C. Lomibao, cited the possibility of planting Yakon, a medicinal rootcrop as an alternative to marijuana. [continues 418 words]
THE series of raids on shabu laboratories and warehouses crippled the operations of Chinese drug lords, resulting in the scarcity of shabu or the so-called poor man's cocaine. Director Marcelo S. Ele, Jr., commander of the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force of the Philippine National Police, said the increase in the price of shabu is proof of the government's success in the drive against illegal drug trafficking. One gram of shabu used to be sold at P1,000, now it goes for as much as P6,000. [continues 331 words]
PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency chief Anselmo S. Avenido, Jr. yesterday ordered a stepped-up anti-drugs drive during the holidays amid fears that drug syndicates would intensify their illegal activities. "We are not letting our guards down even during Christmas and New Year because based on our past experience, there is usually an increase in illegal drug activities as drug syndicates take advantage of the relaxed and festive atmosphere," said Avenido. He said drug lords affected by the crackdown on shabu laboratories and warehouses may have temporarily halted their operations and stored their stuff in secret warehouses. [continues 259 words]
THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is intensifying its crackdown on shabu traffickers whose illegal activities usually increase during the holidays. "We are stepping-up our campaign against street-level drug traffickers in coordination with the Philippine National Police this season," PDEA chief Anselmo Avenido,Jr. told the People's Journal amid fears that drug dealers could resurrect their illegal business this time of the year when addicts have more money to buy illegal drugs. Shabu and marijuana remains the top drug of abuse in the country. [continues 63 words]
ASIAN anti-narcotics officials have discussed new programs to stop drug traffickers from taking advantage of globalization to ply their illegal trade across Asia, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chair Anselmo S. Avenido, Jr. said yesterday. According to Avenido, the effect of globalization in East and Southeast Asia as far as the drug problem is concerned was among the major issues discussed during the two-day International Drug Enforcement Conference-Far East Working Group (IDEC-FEWG) meeting in Manila last December 7-8. [continues 194 words]
AUTHORITIES fear the possible spread of contagious diseases including HIV-AIDS among the country's drug addicts who share a single needle in their drug sessions, the People's Journal was told yesterday. "We are watching this new development in the local drug scene: the possibility that drug addicts will become carriers of much dreaded diseases like HIV-AIDS because they are using the same needle," said Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chairman Anselmo S. Avenido, Jr. Recalling the Quiricada underground drug industry in Sta. Cruz, Manila in the 70s and 80s, PDEA officials said they have monitored an area in Cebu City where drug addicts go to have a "shot" of Nubain, an addictive anesthetic. [continues 496 words]
THE green gold that is marijuana is fast making a comeback on the local drug scene, prompting anti-narcotics officials to intensify the search for and destruction of cannabis fields in the country. "We are intensifying our efforts to stop the massive production of marijuana in the country. This is a search-and-destroy operation," said Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chair Anselmo S. Avenido, Jr. Marijuana remains a favorite among drug addicts in the country due to its availability and much cheaper price. A kilo of marijuana costs P2,500 in the underground market compared to shabu which fetches as much as P5,000 a gram. [continues 332 words]
AGENTS of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Wednesday and Thursday destroyed P30.5 million worth of marijuana in two clandestine plantations in Benguet and Maguindanao. According to PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force commander Director Marcelo S. Ele, Jr., suspected New People's Army guerrillas were believed to be maintaining the two-hectare plantation in Buguias, Benguet. The rebels fled. Ele said some 500,000 fully-grown marijuana plants and 50,000 seedlings were uprooted in Sitio Soukan in Barangay Lam-ayan, Buguias town. [continues 76 words]
ELEVEN of the more than 7,000 members of hte Police Regional Office 4-A in Calabarzon region have tested positive for "shabu" use and are now undergoing investigation and summary dismissal proceedings, PRO4-A director Chief Supt. Jesus A. Verzosa said yesterday. "This is part of our effort to cleanse the PRO4-A of misfits as required by Philippine National Police chief, Gen. (Arturo) Lomibao," Verzosa said. He added that a 12th policeman is also undergoing investigation for switching his urine sample to mislead experts from the PNP Crime Laboratory Group. [continues 151 words]
PRESIDENT Macapagal-Arroyo yesterday ordered the Philippine National Police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force to intensify the campaign against street-level drug trafficking. "What the President wants is for us to further strengthen our anti-drug campaign particularly when it comes to street-level drug pushing and illegal drug abuse," said PNP-AIDSOTF commander Director Marcelo S. Ele, Jr. Ele, also the concurrent PNP Director for Investigation and Detective Management, said Mrs. Arroyo gave the order in the wake of reports of rampant drug pushing. [continues 84 words]
