GMA vows to sustain anti-drug campaign

This is no ningas cogon.

President Arroyo directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday to sustain the conduct of the renewed campaign against illegal drugs.

"Let us avoid the ningas cogon (brush fire) syndrome and for once, make this (anti-illegal drug) campaign a genuine legacy to our future generations," Mrs. Arroyo said.

Taking note of the numerous arrests made, Mrs. Arroyo said the renewed crackdown against illegal drugs "is just the beginning of a continuous campaign that will cut across all affected sectors and communities."

In a statement, the President vowed anew to wage a "total war" against illegal drug syndicates under the overall supervision of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

"We have formed a national team that combines experience, clout and resources. It must buckle down –catching the big fish, clearing the most victimized communities, and taking down transnational syndicates," Mrs. Arroyo said, short of mentioning her recent directive to Sen. Robert Barbers, chairman of the Senate Oversight Committee on Illegal Drugs, to provide "operational directions" to the PDEA.

In the exercise of "oversight" functions, Barbers recommended former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim to become presidential adviser on illegal drugs and the appointment of former police officers Reynaldo Jaylo and Lucio Margallo IV to the PDEA.

Mrs. Arroyo had said PDEA director general Anselmo Avenido would be the overall supervisor of the anti-drug campaign while Barbers will provide "operational directions" against local and international drug syndicates in the country.

Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye, on the other hand, said the appointments of Lim, Jaylo and Margallo could take some time.

While refusing to comment on the reasons for the delay of the appointment,
Bunye brushed aside speculations that politics was behind the appointment of Lim.

"Clearly, we will benefit from his (Lim) advice. So our President said the former mayor will be consulted. We will seek his advice on operational matters," he said.

On Jaylo and Margallo’s possible appointments, Bunye said the two former police officers will have to operate under the supervision of the PDEA.

"So if and when they (Jaylo and Margallo) are actually involved, they’ll have to be PDEA operatives," he said.

Bunye stressed Mrs. Arroyo wanted as many sectors to get involved in the anti-drug campaign.

Following the appointment of Barbers and Lim, a turf war ensued where Avenido earlier sought to clarify the role of the PDEA.

He insisted that the boundary lines should be clearly drawn over the appointments of the two officials in relation to the PDEA in the anti-drug campaign.

Taking note of the ensuing debate over the appointments of Barbers and Lim, Mrs. Arroyo said Tuesday that the PDEA should have overall supervision in the fight against illegal drugs.

Bunye also reiterated that PDEA is the principal agency involved in all anti-drug operations under the law.

Bunye said the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) operates as the policy-making body and strategy-formulating body in the government’s drug prevention and control program while PDEA serves as the implementing arm in enforcing the law.