SENATOR Grace Poe has filed a resolution seeking to review the existing policies, rules and regulations with regards to investigations, search and seizure of drug pushers and sellers within private bars and other party places.
She recommended crafting measures for the effective busts of criminal elements without causing disruption and undue harassment in bars or party places following a hearing last week on the prevalence of drug trade in these areas.
“Despite the government’s utmost efforts in effecting arrests and prosecutions of drug dealers, criminal elements seem to be persistent in drug dealing given the possibility of billions of profits,” said Poe, chairman of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs.
Poe said she was alarmed by the numerous drug busts of cocaine, shabu and ecstasy in the country’s bars, which are usually frequented by the youth.
Citing media reports, Poe said an 18-year-old La Salle student was nabbed last year for possession of 223 ecstasy tablets worth P334,500 inside a condominium building beside the university.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) also discovered a new type of illegal drug – gamma-hydroxybutyric acid, a liquid type of ecstasy which is considered a club drug or a “date rape” drug.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency meanwhile discovered a “dangerous cocktail of ecstasy (3,4 methylenedioxymethamphetamine) and shabu (methamphetamine),” which have been making rounds in the local party scene under the street name “fly high,” “party,” or “superman.”
Poe said the newly-discovered drugs roaming the streets, party place and bars in the country may cause adverse effects like three to four days insomnia, loss of appetite, and hypersexuality. (Sunnex)