This three-month reign of perceived police terror left at least 2,274 people dead. The government and police implausibly ascribed the deaths to gangland feuding, insisting that only 42 drug suspects were shot by police officers-most of those in "self-defense". In fact, the government openly encouraged the police to carry out extra-judicial killings so that the arbitrary goals of its "war on drugs" could be met on time. The Narcotics Control Board provided the indices: 1,765 people arrested as major drug dealers and another 15,244 as minor dealers. More than 280,000 "drug pushers" and "addicts" gave themselves up to authorities and were sent for rehabilitation. In all, some 15.5 million pills were confiscated and the street price for the drug doubled or trebled over the course of the three months from February 1 to April 30. [continues 872 words]
SUMMARY execution is outside of the law. High value drug pushers (if identified) could be subjected to silent killing by the joint forces of "The Punisher", "Mr. Death Wish," and "Dirty Harry." This could be beyond the movies if the vigilante groups will do their thing. We would like to believe that our policemen do their duty "to serve and to protect" by day, and we do not believe that they take off their uniforms at night to do a "Batman" raid with many "Robins." We want to evade that in our imagination, but that could happen. Our policemen are not expected to do vigilante actions because they are the agents of the persons in authority and they can always operate within the bounds of the law. [continues 656 words]
The spate of publicity recently generated by the so-called Alabang boys case, which involves allegations of bribery of anti-drug enforcement agents and Justice Department prosecutors, has impelled the government to carry out a plan of action to curb the growing menace of dangerous drugs in the country. One thing we are thankful of controversies is that government shifts into gears, albeit fleetingly in most cases, to address problems that have been begging attention for some time already. In what appears to be a sweeping move to address the worsening drug problem, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared herself as the country's drug czar and bared plans to institute a nation-wide mandatory random drug testing of students in secondary and tertiary education. [continues 654 words]
APALIT -- Elected officials, department heads, and employees of the Municipal Government here have subjected themselves to voluntary drug testing as part of the town's campaign against illegal drugs. All local officials and employees tested negative for illegal drugs. Local officials here recently launched the "Apalit Ayaw sa Adik!" campaign through a motorcade, anti-drug seminars and related information drives in 12 villages here. Mayor Oscar Tetangco Jr. on Monday said that since he assumed his post here last year, About 24 drug pushers have been apprehended and charged in court. [continues 245 words]
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - A buy-bust operation in Barangay Dolores here Thursday night turned into a bloody encounter after a member of the city police force shot and killed the brother of a suspected drug peddler. Sources identified the police officer as Senior Police Officer 2 Manny Canlas, while the man he shot was identified as one Melchor Dalanpuri, 26, a pedicab driver residing in the area. Reports said Canlas, along with elements of the city police, went to Barangay Dolores to conduct a buy-bust operation, which targeted Dalanpuri's brother Rodel, a suspected drug peddler. [continues 106 words]
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Officials of the Tollways Management Corporation (TMC) are worried about the proliferation of illegal drugs inside the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex). This was learned during a recent meeting of the TMC officials with the members of the Pampanga Truckers Association held at a restaurant here. The tollways officials disclosed that they recently apprehended near the Balintawak exit a driver suspected of buying prohibited drugs from a drug pusher while his truck is parked at the shoulder of the expressway. [continues 178 words]
CANDABA -- It seems that notorious drug peddlers' days in this town are numbered as another suspected drug pusher was summary executed by still unidentified individuals, reports said. Chief Inspector Jovencio Flores, town's police chief, identified the victim as Juanito Garcia alias "Boy Tulis", 42 years old and a resident of Barangay Visal Sto. Nino, this town. Flores said the victim was a well-known suspected drug pusher operating in the 14 barangays of the Tagalog Region here and in some parts of the Bulacan province. [continues 353 words]
THE PNP, as a civilian armed force, is supposed to be the protector of the people. When misguided citizens and lawless elements disturb the peace and order of threaten the lives, limbs, property and liberty of our people, we call on this civilian police force for swift and retaliatory action. But no matter how good the senior officers and men of the PNP, it is continually haunted by an image problem, that is like an indelible ink which refuses to be erased. This serious image problem is caused by a few rogues, rascals and scoundrels who pull down, rather than enhance, the image of the PNP. This bad image dates back during the pre-martial law years of the defunct Philippine Constabulary. How can the nation forget the abuses of the military during the martial law years? How can we forgive an institution who, rather than guard our precious human rights and civil liberties, played the role of an executioner and hitman of the dictatorship in that dark and shameless era of our history? After close to 35 years, this police organization has failed to cleanse its image. [continues 748 words]
CANDABA -- On his first week in office, Mayor Jerry Pelayo declared war against the use and proliferation of illegal drugs in hs town as he assured the people here that he would crack down on drug pushers and users. This developed as he instructed Chief Insp. Jovencio Flores, newly assigned chief of police here who replaced Sr. Insp. Santiago Rodriguez, to increase police visibility to make Candaba a drug and crime-free municipality. The mayor said he would bring the fight against illegal drugs in every barangay as he warned all those involved in illegal drugs to stop their operations and advised them to get out of this town. [continues 196 words]
THE government's drive against illegal drugs reduced the province's 129 drug-affected barangays to 26 as of December last year. This was learned from Senior Supt. Rodolfo B. Mendoza, Pampanga police provincial director, during in a program prepared for the arrival of the anti-drug caravan - Lakbay Kontra Droga - at the Bren Z. Guiao Sports Complex here Saturday afternoon. Mendoza said of the 507 barangays in the province, 129 were tagged by police as "drug-affected" before the creation of the Anti-Illegal Drugs-Special Operations Task Force (Aidsotf) on June 16, 2003. [continues 137 words]
MAGALANG, Pampanga - A total of 138 drug patients "graduated" Saturday from the Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center (CLDRC) after completing the six-month natural detoxification method. The "graduation," held in time for the celebration of Valentine's Day, served as a heart-warming affair for the drug patients and their families. Sr. Supt. Conrado Briton, CLDRC executive director, said the patients who completed the six-month rehabilitation would still undergo a monthly check-up for 18 consecutive months to ascertain that they abstained from further using prohibited substances. [continues 258 words]
ANGELES CITY -- Members of the academe lauded Mayor Carmelo "Tarzan" Lazatin for launching a series of symposia on drugs in schools and universities, which formally started last November 10 at the Angeles City High School Special Science Class (ACHS-SSC). Rowena Pangilinan, a ACHS-SSC faculty member, said they are very grateful to the City Government, especially to Mayor Lazatin for reaching out to the youth and for launching effective programs such as this. "We thank the City Government especially Mayor Lazatin for launching programs for the youth and conducting this symposium, which will not only educate them on the ill-effects of illegal drugs, but also direct and help them to ultimately say no to drugs," Pangilinan said. [continues 242 words]
SAN FERNANDO CITY -- Vigilantes targeting illegal drug traffickers gunned down two more suspected drug pushers on Thursday night in Arayat and Candaba towns. Police identified the victims as Marvin Garcia, 32, married, of Barangay Buensoseso in Arayat and Pablo "Ambo" Garcia, 29, single, of Barangay Paralaya, in Candaba. The killings were committed only four days after the assassination of Dennis Opiniado, 28, in Barangay San Pablo 1st in Magalang town, who was included in the municipality's watch list of suspected drug pushers. [continues 581 words]
SAN FERNANDO -- The City Government, through the efforts of Mayor Rey B. Aquino, donated a one-story building to the Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center (CLDRC) in Magalang town. Aquino on Monday morning led the groundbreaking ceremony at the CLDRC compound in Barangay Sto. Nino in Magalang. CLDRC Executive Director Sr. Supt. Conrado Goco Briton, second highest official of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in Central Luzon, personally awarded Aquino a plaque of appreciation shortly after the flag-hoisting ceremony. Police Insp. Dindo Laguda shared among the guests a brief history of how CLDRC came to be. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between CLDRC and the city government was signed to eventually formalize the event. As a creative gesture of gratitude, CLDRC patients performed a short song interpretation dance. Aquino later made a courtesy call to Magalang Mayor Pastor Guiao at the town municipal hall. [end]
IT'S a lot of a nonsense, the theory of PNP CIDG Head, Chief Supt. Eduardo Matillano that the treacherous killing of S/Supt John Campos, former top agent of the PNP Narcotics Group during the term of Senator Panpilo "Ping" Lacson as PNP Director General in the early dawn of December 5 at a bulalo restaurant in Better Living Subdivision in Paranaque City was part of a plot to destabilize the Arroyo government. And when talks about destabilization occur, it is always imputed to the political opposition, most likely directed against Senator Ping in particular. It is quite a relief that Malacanang did not buy the theory of Matillano and even dismissed it as a personal speculation of the CIDG chief. [continues 648 words]
CENTRAL Luzon authorities Tuesday said they have busted the dreaded Soyangco Gang, a drug trafficking syndicate operating in the region following the arrest of two policemen and eight civilians during separate operations recently. Chief Supt. Oscar Calderon, Central Luzon police director, identified the policemen as SPO1 Oscar Imperial, detailed at the defunct Police Narcotics Group and PO3 Francisco Villaruz of the 303rd Bataan Provincial Mobile Group. According to Calderon, Imperial has gone AWOL since last year and was tagged as the protector of drug rings in Olongapo City. [continues 337 words]
MABALACAT Mayor Marino "Boking" Morales Monday donated P100,000 to the Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center (CLDRC). Morales announced that the donation given to Chief Supt. Conrado Briton, CLRDC director, during the regular Monday flag ceremony at the municipal town hall was raised during the 1st Mayor Marino "Boking" Morales golf tournament at the Mimosa Golf and Country Club. Morales said that the fund raising tournament was organized by the Mabalacat Business Club. Morales said that the donation is intended to help in the municipality's anti-illegal drugs campaign now implemented by Supt. Keith Ernald Singian, Mabalacat police chief, in cooperation with local government officials and non-government organizations. [continues 329 words]
THE recent announcement by Gov. Manuel "Lito" Lapid about the creation of a provincial task force against illegal gambling and illegal drugs is a welcome development. The creation of the task force, which would be supported by the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police to make it more effective against criminals and those involved in jueteng and other types of illegal gambling, is a long overdue move. It is good that the action-governor has finally acknowledged that that there is a grave problem about illegal drug proliferation in many parts of the province. This particular problem, by the way, is especially in the town of Mabalacat. [continues 112 words]
THE many incidents of robberies, proliferation of illegal drugs, and related crimes have become common topics among the residents of Barangay Dau and other villages of Mabalacat. The townsfolk are no longer surprised when they hear that their neighbors, relatives or friends became victims of cellular phone snatching, house burglaries, or bicycle, moped and tricycle stealing. It is lamentable, however, that only a very few crime victims in Mabalacat report the incidents to policemen. Most of the victims dare not involve themselves in the crime reporting process simply because they do not have confidence in their policemen. They think that it would be just a waste of time. [continues 483 words]
It came almost like the early rains that ended this summer's sweltering heat. We mean the pronouncement over the weekend that Mayor Marino "Boking" Morales made about the illegal drugs problem in his municipality. He said he has intensified efforts against it, whatever that meant in concrete or rhetorical terms. In a priming town as Mabalacat, one raring and no less deserving to be anointed as city, that is a ray of hope, however faint, in the almost lost battle against the proliferation of illegal drugs. Even then, we wonder why it has taken Mayor Morales that long to get back to his senses and move more aggressively against this scourge. [continues 381 words]
