80% of heinous crimes drug-related - DDB chief

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines  – The Dangerous Drugs Board chief said 80 percent of heinous crimes committed are drug-related and his agency, being the policy-making body of anti-drugs system in the government, is encouraging more participation on anti-drug abuse prevention activities.

Secretary Antonio Villar Jr. who came here for the launching of Barkada Kontra sa Droga (BKD) exhorted the youths, their parents and teachers for more active participation to fight the drug menace.

But he said the drug situation in Pangasinan “is not really alarming” based on reports reaching him.

However, he said there are also reports pointing to some Muslim centers here and in Urdaneta City that are becoming distribution centers of illegal drugs. “But we are not accusing them of being drug pushers that’s why we have to coordinate with the Muslim leaders and if possible try to conduct raids,” he said.

“But we are not accusing them, we can justify that these Muslim brothers are not part of the illegal trade (if the raids would turn negative). He said because of nagging reports implicating them, Villar said there is a need to conduct raids as being planned by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, being the lead agency and the implementing arm against illegal drugs, to find out the truth and clear them once and for all.

Villar also said he has been suggesting to equip anti-narcotics agents with modern equipment like patrol boats and helicopters to guard the long coastline of the country which is used to transport illegal drugs, like what happened in Samar where two tons of cocaine were seized there as drug syndicates are moneyed and well-equipped.

He said there must be a concerted effort among PDEA, Coast Guard, Anti Illegal Drug Special Operations Task Group, the police to stop the drug menace, especially in the coastal areas.

Villar lauded the efforts of Dagupan City Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez for the successful launching Friday here of BKD with the participation of the Department of Education as 400 youths, parents and teachers actively banded themselves to fight drug abuse.

He said the DDB’s BKD aims to turn to positive the concept of a “barkada,” peer group, by keeping themselves busy with worthwhile endeavors.

Villar said while drug users are victims and must be rehabilitated, drug lords and drug pushers must be meted with the most stringent penalty as they destroy the lives and future of their victims, especially the youths.

Aside from the anti-drug seminar, Villar was impressed with the other anti-drug abuse related activities sponsored by Fernandez. He doubled the cash prizes given to the talent search component of the BKD, with him and Fernandez giving the same total amount each of P45,000 for the first, second and third prizes for the winners and turned over immediately his share during the launching.