DRUG LORDS CRIPPLED - PNP

THE series of raids on shabu laboratories and warehouses crippled the
operations of Chinese drug lords, resulting in the scarcity of shabu
or the so-called poor man's cocaine.

Director Marcelo S. Ele, Jr., commander of the Anti-Illegal Drugs
Special Operations Task Force of the Philippine National Police, said
the increase in the price of shabu is proof of the government's
success in the drive against illegal drug trafficking. One gram of
shabu used to be sold at P1,000, now it goes for as much as P6,000.

"Undoubtedly, the series of successful raids we conducted in
cooperation with various drug law enforcement agencies, both local and
foreign, created a vacuum in the supply of illegal drugs in the
country," Ele said.

The PNP-AIDSOTF is a major partner of the Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency in the crackdown on drug traffickers.

PDEA chief Anselmo Avenido said adulterated shabu is being peddled
because of the scarcity of the drug.

Ele and Avenido credit the success of the anti-drug campaign to the
hands-on leadership of President Macapagal-Arroyo.

"Her boundless energy has carried on to all the anti-drug warriors
with everyone putting on his best effort to meet the expectations of
the President and the Filipino people who clamor for a Drug-Free
Philippines," Ele said.

"What we have to focus on now are efforts of these drug syndicates to
resort to smuggling drugs into the country as we have already proven
our ability to track down their shabu factories wherever they are
relocate," he added.

As head of the PNP unit tasked to investigate erring police officers
and men, Ele said the campaign to rid the police force of drug users,
pushers, protectors and those engaged in so-called "hulidap or
bangketa" operations have made significant gains.

"Hulidap or Bangketa" policemen are rogue officers known for arresting
people with or without drug links and forcing them to cough up huge
amount of money in exchange for their release. In most cases, these
scalawags threaten to file non-bailable cases for violation of
Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002
against their victims. The rogue officers also resort to "planting" of
evidence.

According to Ele, no complaints against "hulidap" policemen have been
received since September 2004.

"There is, however, a need to continuously focus on this in-house
cleansing in the PNP as, despite our efforts, people still regard the
PNP as one of the most corrupt institutions," he said.