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Wednesday, June 25, 2003
Palace says Glo not trying to outdo Ping
By She Caguimbal-Torres
PRESIDENT Arroyo Tuesday said there is no "czar" in her government's anti-drug campaign, even as Malacaņang lashed at its critics for claiming that she is trying to outdo Sen. Panfilo Lacson as a crimebuster.
Arroyo, in a speech in Dolores, Quezon, said a lot of people are wondering who is the government's anti-drug czar, owing to her appointment of several prominent personalities in her newest campaign.
"Lahat nagtataka sino ba yung czar? Walang czar. Teamwork ito. Hindi ito panahon ng czar ng Russia na diktadura. Teamwork and synergy - iyan ang kailangan natin para labanan ang droga," she said.
As of last count, there are six persons to whom the title of "anti-drug czar" is being applied: Arroyo; Sen. Robert Barbers, who chairs the Senate oversight committee on illegal drugs; former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim, who is the presidential adviser on illegal drugs; Interior Secretary Jose Lina Jr., who chairs the Dangerous Drugs Board; Anselmo Avenido, director general of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA); and Deputy Director General Edgardo Aglipay, PNP deputy director general for operations, whom Arroyo also placed in charge of the PNP anti-drug campaign.
Arroyo said her government's anti-drug team has been completed and actions are "being sharpened for the weeks to come." She said results are coming in and more are forthcoming.
She told law enforcement agencies to prepare for the "big push forward."
"I will demand a close consolidation of strategies, intelligence and resources...We must not only clear the high intensity drug trafficking areas. We must inoculate affected communities from relapse through institutionalized vigilance and education," she said.
She said local government units and civil society must also be included in the campaign.
Arroyo told Quezon residents that their province also presents problems connected with the illegal drug trade because of its very long coastline, which could be used by drug syndicates for smuggling.
She said Quezon also presents the challenges of poverty and peace and order.
Presidential spokesman Ignacio Bunye chided Palace critics for injecting politics into the anti-drug campaign, particularly those who are saying that Arroyo is trying to match Lacson's image as a crimebuster as part of her 2004 plans.
"That's the problem with many people. They can't leave politics out of the picture. They always inject politics into everything that the President does. That's the reason why the President is shying away from politics and she'd rather concentrate on the substantial work to be done," Bunye said.
"The President really finds the problem a serious one which deserves her personal attention and she's doing that precisely," he said.
Bunye said the recent appointments to the anti-drug campaign were based on their achievements in the past. He said the President also undertook consultations and sought advice.
He said the functions of each personality will be delineated in the coming days.
On Wednesday's anti-drug summit, which was organized by the House of Representatives, Bunye said: "The drug summit is supposed to enlist the support of all sectors. The President has always said that the approach to the drug problem should be multi-sectoral and should be participated in by as many stakeholders as possible."
(June 25, 2003 issue)
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