Drug bureau: Violators in Davao up this year

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) noted a 53 percent increase in the number of drug violators arrested in the first eight months of 2012 as compared to the same period last year.

Emerson Rosales, PDEA regional director, said drug violators arrested in the region from January to August this year reached 391, while last year's record of the same period was pegged at 255.

He also said they were able to seize 195 grams of shabu this year, which is six percent higher than last year's 184 grams.

Rosales said there is also an increase of 88 percent in terms of operation against drug violators in the region even as he denied that most of the cases they have filed against drug respondents were dismissed.

"Very minimal ang dismissal sa mga kasong pina-file ng PDEA dahil meron tayong patuloy na coordination sa CPO (City Prosecution Office), actually sila ang nagtuturo sa atin kung ano ang adjustments na dapat gawin ng PDEA in terms of prosecution," he said.

Rosales also said they do resort to "planting drugs" during operation against drug suspects.

"Ang PDEA at ang PNP walang pangplant na drugs. Walang drugs na nirerecycle, lahat ng drugs na kino-confiscate merong order for destruction," he said.