Lim, PDEA chief ink accord on anti-illegal drugs campaign

To further strengthen its campaign against illegal drugs, the Manila City government and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency yesterday signed a memorandum of agreement, which includes among others additional funding by the city government to the agency’s operations against drug syndicates.

On Wednesday, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim had reactivated the city government’s “Anti-Drug Abuse Council,” chaired by the Manila mayor, to strengthen its anti-illegal drugs campaign, in cooperation with the Manila Police District.

In yesterday’s event, Lim represented the city government’s Mayor’s Special Action Team (MSAT), while PDEA chief Dionisio Santiago represented the PDEA in signing the MOA, which cites the cooperation between the two offices in the anti-illegal drugs prevention in Manila. The signing was made at the Manila City Hall’s Bulwagan Hall.

With the signing of the agreement, Manila has vowed to help out finance and acquire facilities in the campaign of the PDEA, including providing rehabilitation of drug abusers.

Lim said one of the areas they would be helping out will be to add more funds to finance the PDEA’s and the MPD’s buy-bust operations with regard to operations in Manila.

Lim also said they may even talk to private rehabilitation centers to help out since there is only one government-run rehabilitation center in Manila which provides free services. Private rehabilitation centers charge high fees. Santiago said the PDEA and Manila government may even talk to private companies which donate funds or facilities for such campaign.

Fund donation

Lim declined to state exactly how much funding support the City of Manila will provide the PDEA in its operations. Santiago also said the PDEA would deputize the MPD police to help out in the anti-illegal drugs operations.

In the MOA, the Manila government and PDEA has stated that they believe and agree that problems on dangerous drugs and its ill-effects can be properly addressed through mutual concerted efforts by both parties and the community in general. This is an urgent need to pursue a forceful, intensive and unrelenting campaign against drug trafficking and the use of illegal drugs whether on a syndicated scale or at street-scale level, the MOA said. The MOA said the city government may continue its operations, plans, campaigns and programs against illegal drugs within its present area of jurisdiction or responsibility, in support of the PDEA and to perform and execute the following functions:

Drug abuse prevention, per Memorandum Circular 98-227 of the Department of Interior and Local Government; assistance to the PDEA and other drug enforcement units in the identification and arrest of drug offenders in its area of jurisdiction; conduct of preventive or educational programs; drug rehabilitation and treatment of drug dependents; abatement of drug related nuisances; and conduct of warrantless /citizen’s arrest, as provided for in Rule 113, Sec. 5, of the Revised Rules of Court.

The parties undertake to provide mutual assistance in the execution and implementation of RA No. 9165, Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, within the various barangays of Manila.

The City of Manila shall assist PDEA in the filing of cases before the courts of proper jurisdiction against violators of RA 9165 and related law.

The City of Manila shall provide the necessary information on suspected drug personalities, drug den and laboratory operating within their area of jurisdiction as well as assistance, including but not limited to personnel and resources, to the PDEA during the conduct of anti-illegal drugs operations.

The City of Manila undertakes to immediately inform PDEA as to the arrest of drug offenders in said area of responsibility pursuant to Section 5, Rule 113 of the Rules of Court.

The City of Manila also undertakes to provide the PDEA with periodic reports, of their arrests and cases filed related to RA 9165, and the number of persons/drug dependents voluntarily referred for treatment and rehabilitation. The City of Manila shall also perform such other functions, as may be necessary and /or incidental to the foregoing.