Palace open to changing drug law

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang is open to amending current drug laws in the country to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs, but officials have not yet discussed reimposing the death penalty, an official said yesterday.

Under the country’s Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, Republic Act 9165, the maximum penalty for those convicted of drug offense is life imprisonment since the country abolished the death penalty in 2006.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said they will support proposals from lawmakers that would improve current laws and stop drug trafficking.

At present, he said the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and other law enforcement agencies have clear directions to wage an all-out campaign against drug trafficking in the country.

Coloma added that the Department of Transportation and Communications is working on improvements for X-ray machines and other equipment for airports and seaports to help in the campaign against illegal drugs. “This is being given highest priority,” he said in a press briefing.

Coloma said the results of anti-drug raids, particularly those involving suspects with alleged ties to the Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel, show that the government is addressing drug trafficking.

He promised that the administration would do everything to prevent narco-politics from being at play in the country.