INFORMATION from the community is needed to monitor the movement of Ecstasy and other party drugs in the enclaves of the rich, said Director Wardley Getalla of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7.

“We can hardly monitor subdivisions and condominiums where rich families and possible drug pushers are living. So concerned citizens are needed to give us information on Ecstasy movement,” Getalla said.

He said he will meet bar owners and party organizers to teach them how to police their ranks against the entry of possible illegal drugs during business hours; otherwise, they will suffer the consequences.

Getalla said he will also meet with officials of local government units (LGUs) for coordination in implementing local ordinances against illegal drugs, especially Ecstasy, which is being used in parties.

He said LGUs have the power to revoke the business permit of a bar or cancel a party permit if there are violations on illegal drugs.

At the 888 News Forum at Marco Polo Plaza, he said pushers of Ecstasy have a limited market compared to shabu, which is considered the “poor man’s cocaine.”

Getalla said they are verifying reports that Ecstasy distributed in Cebu can cause death because it is an imitation from China, where shabu also originated.

He said the PDEA’s laboratories are capable of profiling drugs to determine their origin. (EOB)