THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reiterated Friday its warning to overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) not to accommodate requests to carry baggage when they travel abroad.

PDEA director Dionisio Santiago made the call alongside the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to safeguard all travelers from suffering the same fate as OFWs who were arrested and jailed in various foreign countries for drug trafficking and smuggling because such baggage yield drugs.

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PDEA records showed that a total of 240 Filipino workers were already arrested for the said cases. Some of them already died.

The anti-drug agency issued four travel advisories since May 2008 for all Filipino travelers not to accommodate any requests to carry baggage from strangers because these may contain dangerous drugs.

According to Santiago, Filipinos are being exploited due to their accommodating nature in the spirit of "pakikisama," a popular and often abused cultural trait.

He advised travelers to personally inspect the contents before agreeing to bring any baggage by request, adding that it is unwise for our kababayans (countrymen) to risk their life and future over any amount of dangerous drugs or cash.

International drug groups operating in Asia, the Middle East, and South America employ Africans who recruit unsuspecting Filipino travelers in need of money as drug couriers or "mules."

It is sad to note that Filipino travelers caught transporting illegal drugs will suffer the death penalty, even if they did not know they were actually carrying such dangerous substances.

Their only hope at this point is diplomatic intervention by no less than President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo herself.

Santiago lamented that these incidences are damaging to the country's reputation. In fact, strict restrictions are now being applied to Filipino travelers due to the recent string of reports citing the involvement of Filipinos in illegal drug smuggling activities.

He said anti-drug operations in cooperation with domestic and international law enforcement counterparts have been intensified due to the recent discovery of renewed drug smuggling activities.

The PDEA chief added that the issue of drug "mules" was part of the agenda of the International Drug Enforcement Conference (IDEC) Far East Working Group, where the Philippines is duly represented by PDEA. (VR/Sunnex)

For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao.

(November 15, 2008 issue)
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