Oaminal says fall in demand, supply of drugs noted by US

CEBU, Philippines - Dangerous Drugs Board Vice Chairman Clarence Paul Oaminal said observers should read and study the entire report of the U.S. State Department before concluding that narcopolitics will play a major role in the upcoming polls.

Oaminal said that while the U.S. State Department has expressed fears of the possibility that drug money will be used in the elections, the same report also states that there is a decline in the supply and demand of drugs in the country.

In fact, in Region 7 alone, the government won 728 of the 1,288 drug cases resolved by the court as of December 31, 2009, Oaminal said. Of the 9,635 drug cases filed last year, 8,263 cases are still pending.

This data reportedly reflects the national data, which states that 73 percent of drug cases remain pending and 25 percent has been resolved. Records show that 105,942 drug-related cases were filed last year, with 75,414 still pending and still rising following the arrests made this year.

Oaminal, however, acknowledged that despite the accomplishments of government, public perception demands that drug-related cases must be resolved as fast as possible for it is only when those arrested are proven guilty will people believe in the sincerity of government to go after drug offenders.

Oaminal said the present set-up of the judiciary wherein drug courts still hear cases of another nature contributes to the delay in the resolution of drug-related cases.

He said that unless special drugs courts will be created, drug cases will continue to clog the court dockets. The creation of special drugs courts was proposed by then Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Tito Sotto.

Meanwhile, Oaminal lauded PDEA VII and the PNP for their continued efforts in arresting cocaine couriers. He said the cases won were the result of the cooperation of the pillars of law enforcement, prosecution and the persistence of the judges to hear and decide cases within the most reasonable time. — Johanna T. Natavio/JMO (FREEMAN NEWS)