SULU sponsors Seminar on the management of BARANGAY anti Drug Clearing Operations for Chiefs of Police in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (BASULTA)

Zamboanga City – Director General Arturo G. Cacdac, Jr. of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) lead lecturers and participants on a one day  Seminar on the management of BARANGAY anti Drug Clearing Operations for Chiefs of Police in Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi (BASULTA) held recently at the Garden Orchid, Hotel in Zamboanga City (Feb. 5, 2013). Initiated and Sponsored by the Sulu Provincial Gov’t under Gov. Ab dusakur M. Tan in partnership with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) under Dir. Gen. Cacdac, the seminar aims to address the growing problem of drugs in BASULTA and to find ways to put a stop on the number of pushers and users of illegal drugs in the Region.

“Sincere appreciation to the LGU’s of BASULTA, and especially for Gov. Tan for sponsoring this Seminar” said Cacdac, in his message. Tan requested that PDEA address the proliferation of prohibited drugs in the region according to the PDEA chief. He said that Basulta is close to his heart that’s why he did not have no second thoughts in coming here to this part of the country.

Along  with the PDEA Chief are lecturers Gen. Pedrito C. Magsino, Chief,Preventive Education and Community Involvement Service (PECIS), Dir. Edgar S. Apalla, Chief, PDEA Academy, Dir. Adzhar A. Albani, Reg. Director PDEA RO-9, Prof. Moh. TAHA S. Arakama, City Director, DILG Zamboanga City, Mr. Sherwin R. Vitterbo of PDEA Intelligence and Investigation Service (IIS), Atty Sherwin C. Closa, PDEA –RO9,  and representing Sulu Gov. Abdusakur M. Tan is Board Member Alkramer “Butch” Izquierdo.

BASULTA PNP officers headed by P/SSupt. Antonio Freyra -Sulu, P/SSupt. Mario N. Dapilloza – Basilan and P/SSupt. Joey Salido – Tawi-Tawi are well represented and target participants of the seminar.

In his message, BM Izquierdo said that the Sulu Prov’l Government has taken necessary steps to curtail the menace of drugs in Sulu. “We have created a Prov’l Anti-drug Abuse council (PADAC) to empower the prov’l government to curb and apprehend drug pushers in the province”.

The course outline of the seminar tackles subjects which includes, the National Drug Situation ; The PDEA  and Its Operational Concepts;  DDB Regulation No. 2-2007: Revised Guidelines in the Conduct of Barangay Drug-Clearing Operations; Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002  (RA No.9165) Salient Provisions, with emphasis on Section 21; Implementation of Multiple Search Warrant & Buy-Bust Operations in the Street Level; Demand Reduction Strategies ; DILG Memorandum Circulars No. 2012-94: Strengthening the City, Municipal and Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils.

“The Idea here is to clear affected barangay’s of the Menace of illegal drugs, Strict law enforcement for Pushers, Rahab for users” Cacdac emphasized.

Prof. Arakama told participants that an Executive Order must be issued to create an anti-drug council, enumerating its members in support of any board or sanggunian resolution. He also said that there must be a Inter-Area Public Order and Safety Plan (IAPOSP) reflected in the LGU’s annual investment plan. This is 3% of the annual budget and 30% of the annual peace and order plan. The IASOP can be used to assists law enforcers in the fight against illegal drug according to the DILG Zamboanga Chief. 

In his lecture on the national drug situation, Mr. Sherwin R. Vitterbo of PDEA Intelligence and Investigation Service (IIS) said that Based on the 2008 DDB household survey, there are 1.7 million regular users in the country today. Shabu continues to be the most abused drug in the country followed by marijuana. Ecstasy, a well known for being a party drug, is commonly abused by the affluent members of the society particularly celebrities, prominent personalities, and party-inclined teens in places where night life is active such as in exclusive bars and clubs. Solvent and other inhalants are also preferred and usually abused by street children.

Gen Magsino of PECIS, on Demand reduction, highlighted the importance of networking with other agencies and empowering all sectors of the society in support to the accomplishment of PDEA’s mission of a drug Free Philippines. 

Overall Dir. Gen. Cacdac reminded participant  law enforcers that RA 9165  mandated PDEA to be the lead Agency in the government’s anti-drug campaign, but it does not say PDEA is the only agency allowed to conduct anti-drug campaign. He reiterated the need for cooperation and coordination between law enforcement agencies to fight illegal drugs. He added that Activation of Provincial, Municipal and Barangay anti-drug councils P/M/B ADACs, BADAC Auxiliary Teams and SK in each barangay , and a clear defining and allocation of responsibility for barangay drug-clearing activities.

Basulta PNP Provincial Directors and Officers thanked PDEA for sharing their expertise and techniques from surveillance, arrest and prosecution, up to the handling of evidence seized. “ this is a first in the region. We should have more of this, especially in this fight against the global menace of illegal drugs “ said PSSupt. Freyra.

Sulu Governor Tan in a txt message expressed his support to PDEA and gratitude to Gen. Cacdac and directors of PDEA for giving time to this seminar and expressed optimism that this activity will further increase the knowledge, capabilities and cooperation of law enforcers to have an efficient and effective anti drug campaign.

PDEA is A law enforcement and regulatory agency, responsible for the efficient and effective law enforcement of all the provisions of RA 9165. Its powers and duties are,  Effectively implement the provisions of Republic Act 9165; Carry out a national anti-drug campaign;Take charge and have custody of all seized, confiscated/surrendered dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals; Assist and monitor in filing cases in courts for violation of RA 9165;Establish and maintain a national drug intelligence system (with report by Becky D. de Asis and Sulu-PIO)