Lawmaker bats for creation of anti-drug prosecutor's office

MANILA, Philippines –  A senior administration lawmaker is pushing for the establishment of an Office of the Special Prosecutor on Dangerous Drugs (OSPDD) to focus on the prosecution of illegal drug cases and step up the fight against the drug menace, which has affected 1.7 million Filipinos.

Parañaque City Rep. Roilo Golez said the creation of the office through House Bill 309 will “prevent the transformation of the country from being a beacon of democracy in Asia into a narco-democracy in the region.”

“We should directly respond to the illegal drug crisis, which has reached an alarming level that may be a national security threat through a single, solid and strong blow, the creation of a Special Prosecutor for Dangerous Drugs,” Golez said.

He said a level-one drug operator earns P200 million a month or P2.4 billion a year.

The proposed OSPDD will handle the prosecution of all drug lords and big-time traffickers and top government and military officials linked to illegal drugs.

The powers and functions of the OSPDD as provided under the bill shall include investigation, initiation of court action, or in any manner proceed against any person, corporation or firm which may be or is involved in the dangerous drug trade.

The OSPDD shall represent the government before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals in all criminal cases on dangerous drugs and drug related proceedings pursuant to Section 4 of the measure.

The OSPDD will get an initial budget of P200 million under the bill.