AIDSOTF right on target for a drug-free Philippines by 2010

Despite limited financial and manpower resources, the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) continues to inflict "killer blows" to drug syndicates. In 2005, 12 shabu laboratories and storage facilities in Metro Manila and other parts of the country were neutralized.

With the strong commitment and enthusiasm displayed by AIDSOTF members, anti-drug czar Director Marcelo Ele Jr., declared that they are "right on target" for their primary objective of a drug-free Philippines by year 2010.

This year, Ele, who also heads AIDSOTF, plans to focus more on the two-pronged approach that aims to reduce demand and supply of illegal drugs.

"The demand strategy focuses on preventive education, (and) policy formulation for drug-free workplaces, schools and the community through advocacy seminars and information drive on the evil effects of illegal drugs," said Ele in his year-end report to Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Arturo Lomibao.

Since its inception in 2003, AIDSOTF was able to neutralize 26 drug laboratories and 23 warehouses. It has also conducted raids on 12 marijuana plantations, four ketamine laboratories and an ecstasy source. Since September 2004, AIDSOTF said it has confiscated illegal drugs amounting to P3.8 billion.

Ele admitted that the of accomplishments of AIDSOTF was achieved in coordination with foreign and local drug law enforcement agencies. He said the successful raids resulted in a vacuum in the supply of illegal drugs in the country, which has pushed the price of shabu to an all-time high of P6,000 per gram. "What used to be sold for as low as P1,000 per gram in the market is now being sold for P6,000 in Metro Manila and in some areas of the country," said Ele.

AIDSOTF monitoring also found out that shabu peddled in the streets are now adulterated with ingredients like talc and alum.

Ele said their success is also made possible by the agency’s good working relationships with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Bureau of Immigration (BI) and the Bureau of Customs (BuCus), and the US Drug Enforcement Agency, the Taiwan and Hong Kong police.

"As we have already proven our ability to track down drug syndicate’s factories and warehouses, we are now focusing on efforts to smuggle illegal drugs into the country," he said.

To reduce demand in the streets, AIDSOTF conducted seminars for employees and workers and top management level officers, out-of-school-youths, barangay and community leaders, and professionals and religious group leaders last year.

It also adopted the Pamilya Ayaw sa Droga (PAD) program, which empowers Filipino families and educate them on the ABCs of the drug trade and abuse, as well as its prevention.

AIDSOTF likewise initiated the Barkada Ayaw sa Droga, a peer-based anti-drug abuse advocacy program aimed at encouraging a collective and unified action among members of the community against illegal drugs using the youth-oriented values of camaraderie, cooperation and solidarity.

The AIDSOTF chief happily noted that since September last year, there have been no reports of their own personnel being involved in the illegal drug trade.

Ele added that he did not receive any complaint either regarding AIDSOTF rank-and-file involved in "bangketa" and "hulidap" operations. "There is, however, a need to continuously focus on this in-house cleansing as despite our efforts, people still regard the PNP as one of the most corrupt institutions," said Ele, who is also a lawyer.

The agency is now intensifying its campaign against marijuana plantations amid reports that it is fast gaining popularity among the masses as the second drugs of choice of Filipinos.

The AIDSOTF is also watching airports and seaports to prevent the entry into the country of Ketamine and Ecstacy, which are fast becoming popular among wealthy teenagers. Among the major constraints that hamper AIDSOTF’s operations are limited financial and manpower resources.

"But the war against (illegal) drugs should not stop just because we have limited resources," Ele pointed out. "We have to live up to our mandate." Ele vowed to recruit the "best and brightest" police operatives into AIDSOTF so that they can have another bountiful harvest of illegal drugs in the coming year.