WITH LAW ENFORCERS proving themselves capable of going after street peddlers, it is high time for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) to go after the so-called big fish, said Senator Panfilo Lacson.
Lacson cited the need for stricter coordination at the upper levels against the entry of illegal drugs into the country. “You have to refocus because the police are now capable of going after street peddlers. You have to concentrate on those at the higher levels,” he said.
He added that illegal drugs slip past the Bureau of Customs from time to time, and find their way into the hands of drug peddlers, many of whom mix them with candy or deodorizer to maximize their profits.
Lacson also told the PDEA to address issues in its custody of illegal drugs that had been seized and are being kept as evidence for court cases.He said the weakness in the chain of custody had resulted in technicalities that lead to the dismissal of cases.
To date, the PDEA has some P9.7 billion worth of seized illegal drugs in its custody. “I think you should do something about the excessive quantity of dangerous drugs still in your possession. It’s a bit mind-boggling, the P9.7 billion worth of dangerous drugs,” Lacson said. (Mindanao Examiner)
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