Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is now into aggressive demand reduction by going into information awareness campaigns and rounding schools to discuss on the ill effects, symptoms of drug use and how communities can do their share to stop the menace. Amidst intelligence reports that illegal drugs continue to enter Bohol through the northwestern towns facing Cebu, to start this week police officers are deputized as anti drug agents. Survey indicates that Boholanos do not consider drugs as a huge problem; nevertheless, the PDEA has already netted 11 convictions, according to the PDEA, Intelligence officer Steven Valles. Valles said the new deputized narcotic agents in uniform can apprehend and raid as long as they can get a raid control number from the regional office, one that the local office can facilitate.
Valles, with regards to the new narcotic agents, said that a training set on August 10 to 14, 2009 includes the standard operating procedures for police as quasi-drug interdiction agents. Valles cited that most drug cases dismissed in court involve technicality proceedings and are being extensively used by defense lawyers. PDEA however said on pending the finalization of memorandum of agreement among the PNP, PDEA, PIIB and other drug enforcement agency and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and Capitol, that the legal assistance for effective law enforcement program may not be totally be available for officers who get entangled with the law while performing their duties.
PDEA, Intelligence officer Steven Valles said that because of the undermanned PDEA, the office accepts independent reports and information from well-meaning citizens about drug related operations. Valles assures that the information submitted to their office would be treated with confidentiality.
