Thursday, February 21, 2008 Public support sought v. illegal drugs
CLARK FREEPORT -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has called on the public "to take an active part" in the government's campaign against prohibited drugs.
PDEA Assistant Secretary Rodolfo Caisip, who is also the agency's deputy director general for operations, sounded the call during an orientation program on Republic Act (RA) 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and Department Order (DO) 53-03 spearheaded by the Clark Development Corporation (CDC) on February 18 and 19.
"Drug abuse and other drug-related problems that have beset us is a social issue. This crisis does not only lie in the hands of the police, PDEA, or the authorities. The answer to this problem also involves the active participation of everybody. That includes civilians," Caisip said.
He addressed CDC employees during the two-day orientation held at the Clark Museum here.
CDC president Levy Laus said the orientation aims to provide CDC employees continuing education on the laws related to drug prevention in the workplace.
This activity, Laus added, will also be a venue to discuss the salient features of the company policies and programs for a drug-free workplace.
Caisip stressed that civilians can help drug enforcement agencies like PDEA and the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the fight against drug abuse by monitoring and reporting to authorities' suspicious activities and characters in their respective communities.
He said the anti-drug agency has devised a reward program where cash incentives will be given to anyone who can provide accurate tips or information that can lead to the arrest of persons involved in drug abuse or raid of establishments used for the manufacture or storage of illegal drugs.
"(If) civilians can receive a P1-million cash reward for information leading to a raid of a medium-sized laboratory and a P1.5-million reward for a larger laboratory or warehouse," he said.
He added that informants shall be required to fill-out forms at the PDEA regional office.
He also assured civilian informants of their safety and that, their identities will be kept under strict confidentiality.
Caisip, however, cautioned would-be informants that civilians do not have any police power and should leave to police raids and apprehensions.
He also advised apartment owners to conduct regular visits and check-ups on their tenants to assure that their properties are not used as clandestine shabu laboratories or warehouses.
He said the PDEA was established in 2003 and in its five years of operations it was able to neutralize 52 clandestine shabu laboratories.
The agency was also able to shut more than 40 warehouses used to store chemicals like CPEX, ephedrine, and acetone, which are being used in the manufacture of illegal drugs. (RGN)
