Illegal Drugs

ANALYTICAL REPORT ON ILLEGAL DRUGS

History
The illegal drugs problem in the country is real and pervasive. It is undermining the moral fabric of our society and is victimizing almost everyone, including even young children in the grade schools. It has become a threat to national security.
The national drug strategy which is primarily focused on "demand and supply reduction" appears to be working ineffectively. On the contrary, the demand for illegal drugs continues to increase. To make things worse, there seems to be always an abundant supply of prohibited drugs despite the government's vigorous efforts to stamp it out. Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, locally known as shabu, for example, which was first detected in the Philippines in the early eighties, has gained tremendous popularity. It now ranks as the primary choice among drug abusers nationwide.
A qualified information from the Philippine National Police considers the Philippines, primarily due to its strategic location, as a key transshipment point for illicit drugs from a source country to other parts of the world. Its vantage location relative to other countries in the Asia-Pacific region makes it a convenient passageway. The long and irregular coastline of the more than 7,000 islands comprising the archipelago provides convenient smuggling routes.
For the past decade, the trend in the abuse of illicit drugs has increased dramatically. Well-organized and well-financed criminal organizations run their illicit drug trafficking syndicates with even greater skills and sophistication. There are presently three (3) known international drug syndicates operating in the Philippines: one traffics shabu into the country, another uses the country as a transshipment point for heroin to the USA and other countries; and the third smuggles cannabis/marijuana out of the country to Japan, USA, New Zealand and Australia.
This alarming drug situation calls no less than a more serious and focused efforts from the government which could be accomplished through the establishment of an agency manned by competent personnel and dedicated solely for the efficient and effective implementation and enforcement of all laws on prohibited and regulated drugs and other controlled substances. This proposed bill hopes to attain this noble objective.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) (Filipino: Kawanihan ng Pilipinas Laban sa Droga) is the lead anti-drugs law enforcement agency, responsible for preventing, investigating and combating any dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals within the Philippines. The agency is tasked with the enforcement of the penal and regulatory provisions of Republic ActNo. 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. PDEA is the implementing arm of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB). The DDB is the policy-making and strategy-formulating body in the planning and formulation of policies and programs on drug prevention and control. PDEA and DDB are both under the supervision of the Office of the President. For thirty years, the Republic Act No. 6425, or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972, had been the backbone of the drug law enforcement system in the Philippines. Despite the efforts of various law enforcement agencies mandated to implement the law, the drug problem alarmingly escalated. The high profitability of the illegal drug trade, compounded by the then existing laws that imposed relatively light penalties to offenders, greatly contributed to the gravity of the problem. Recognizing the need to further strengthen existing laws governing Philippine drug law enforcement system, the then Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed the Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, on June 7, 2002 and it took effect on July 4, 2002. The Republic Act No. 9165 defines more concrete courses of action for the national anti-drug campaign and imposes heavier penalties to offenders. The enactment of Republic Act 9165 reorganized the Philippine drug law enforcement system. While the Dangerous Drugs Board remains as the policy-making and strategy-formulating body in planning and formulation of policies and program on drug control and prevention, it created the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency under the Office of the President. The new law abolished the National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center, which was created under Executive Order No. 61; and the Narcotics Group of Philippine National Police (PNP-NG), Narcotics Division of National Bureau of Investigation (NBI-ND), and the Customs Narcotics Interdiction Unit of the Bureau of Customs (BOC-CNIU). However, these law enforcement agencies have organized the following anti-illegal drugs task force to support the PDEA: Philippine National Police - Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operation Task Force (PNP-AIDSOTF); National Bureau of Investigation - Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force (NBI-AIDTF); and Bureau of Customs - Customs Task Group/Force in Dangerous Drugs and Controlled Chemicals (BOC-CTGFDDCC).

Effects * Self look anemic. Although
In contrast to prescription drugs, illegal drugs are not manufactured in controlled environments under strict standards of quality. In other words, you never know what quality and quantity you are really getting, or with that cheaper poison an unscrupulous dealer may have diluted the drug.

Some of the side effects of illegal drugs could actually limit your ability to have the ‘good time; you might have thought the drug was going to provide. The side-effects multiply, compound, and can cause permanent damage the more frequently you take the drugs. Side effects include: * Confusion * Anxiety * Paranoia * Panic attacks * Nausea * Shaking * Headache * Psychotic behavior * Hostile and aggressive behavior * Violence * Mental and emotional disturbance, and possible permanent mental illness * Permanent damage to brain, liver, kidneys, and heart

* Family
You may think that substance abuse is your choice---and your business. The truth is that you are victimizing the people who love you and depend on you. The results of substance abuse become more obvious as you become more involved in it. Illegal drugs have a mark-up that would make pharmaceutical company profits look anemic. Although you have no intention of spending your family into homelessness, you are lowering their standard of living. You are spending your family's grocery money. You may be sniffing, snorting, drinking, smoking and popping your children's college educations, next year's tax bill or your spouse's insurance premiums. Families of abusers need saving just like any family but are unable to plan financially because of unpredictable employment patterns as well as medical and legal costs that are incurred by the abuser.
Second-hand abuse is involuntary; you are forcing them to choose between living a normal, healthy life and their love for you. Family secrets breed family tensions and resentment. Your behaviors will eventually make it emotionally difficult for your family members to hold jobs, enjoy friendships---even succeed in school---because they never know what to expect at home. They can't count on you to support or provide for them and they may never know when to expect violence or abuse from you. Substance abuse's corrosive effect on family dynamics can pour out into schools and the workplace, costing lost childhoods, time lost and higher insurance costs. If you force them to "turn you in" for help or to law enforcement, you've undermined their loyalty---a building block of family relationships. If they don't turn you in out of loyalty, you condemn them to descend with you as your dependence increases. Although the financial and physical effects of your substance abuse on your family can be reversed, the emotional effects will last them their lifetimes and may even define your children's relationships with their children.

* Community * Illegal drugs are concentrated in a number of disadvantaged urban communities. The profound negative effects of concentrations of drugs problems include: * Discarded needles and syringes in estates * Visible drug use and drug dealing within the community * Children coming into contact with drug use at an early age * Crime and violence associated with the illegal drugs trade. * Many people living in communities with high levels of drug use feel stigmatized and resent outside representations of their communities that focus on drugs problems. * Illegal drugs use has serious impact on society. It is associated with: * Increased levels of crime and imprisonment * It is symptomatic of increased inequality and poverty. * The presence of high levels of visible drug use and drug dealing on our streets negatively influences the quality of life of city dwellers.
Penalty
There are legal consequences for drug use including; * Having to pay a fine. * Being arrested by the Police. * Having to go to Court. * Jail - maybe before and after the Court appearance. * Community service. * Treatment orders, where you are required to undergo treatment or go to jail. * A criminal record. It can be difficult to get a job, or travel to some countries if you have a criminal record. * If you grow, deal or sell any illegal drug the penalties are very harsh. * In some countries the penalties for carrying or dealing drugs can mean long years in jail or even the death penalty.
Article II, Section 4-5 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
Unlawful Acts and Penalties * Importation of Dangerous drugs and/ or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals * Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution and Transportation of Dangerous drugs and/ or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals * The penalty of life imprisonment to death and a fine ranging from P500,000.00 to P10,000,000.00 * The penalty of imprisonment from 12 years and 1 day to 20 years and a fine ranging from P100,000.00 to P500,000.00

Clippings
Musician nabbed over illegal drugs in Cagayan
A musician was caught by operatives of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency selling illegal drugs during a recent sting operation in Cagayan province.
Marlon Desi Israel, a 36-year old musician who allegedly sells shabu on the side, of Barangay Cagay, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, is included in the list of PDEA Regional Order of Battle, PDEA director general Jose Gutierrez Jr. said.
Reports said Israel was arrested around 4:30 a.m. Tuesday after selling illegal drugs to a PDEA undercover agent in Barangay Tanza, Tuguegarao City.
After the suspect received the P2,000 marked bills in exchange for one plastic sachet of shabu, elements of PDEA Regional Office 2 (PDEA RO2) immediately swooped down on him.
Operatives also recovered from his possession a cellular phone which he used in his illegal drug transactions.
Israel will face charges for violation of Section 5 (Sale of Dangerous Drugs), Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. http://www.philstar.com/nation/article.aspx?publicationsubcategoryid=200&articleid=838630 PDEA seize P5 mil-worth of illegal drugs
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) operatives seized P5 million-worth of cocaine in a buy-bust operation in Eastern Samar earlier this week.

The PDEA operation, details of which the agency disclosed only Wednesday, resulted in the arrest of Fe Delmonte, whom PDEA described as a "notorious lady pusher." Delmonte was caught in the sting operation after handing over a brick of cocaine to a PDEA agent in exchange for P450,000. The PDEA also recovered a mobile phone that she allegedly used for drug transactions.

Delmonte will be charged for violating the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. Under the law, selling dangerous drugs carries a penalty of life imprisonment and a fine of from P500,000 to P10 million.

The cocaine may be part of around two tons of cocaine dumped by a Hong Kong-bound vessel in the waters around Samar in December 2009. The ship, FV King Yue 1, is believed to have dumped the drugs overboard to avoid arrest by Hong Kong authorities. By 2010, PDEA had recovered some P1.6 billion in cocaine, around 335 kilograms, from the shorelines of Samar and nearby provinces.

"We will have to look into the possibility whether this cocaine brick seized by PDEA agents is still part of the unrecovered 'Samar cocaine' which is being recycled in the black market," PDEA director general Jose Gutierrez, Jr said in a press statement.

PDEA director Derrick Carreon told Yahoo! Southeast Asia that PDEA will coordinate with law enforcement agencies abroad to profile the cocaine and find out whether it came from the shipment that FV King Yue 1 dumped.

The buy-bust operation was conducted in Dolores town in Eastern Samar. Bricks of the dumped cocaine were found in the nearby towns of Llorente, Balangkayan, Maydolong, and San Policarpio in 2010. PDEA said then that some of the cocaine may have been recovered and resold by local dealers. http://ph.news.yahoo.com/pdea-seize-p5-mil-worth-of-illegal-drugs.html Illegal drugs continue to hound Filipinos
By ROY C. MABASA
March 30, 2011, 6:11pm

MANILA,Philippines -- With a nation traumatized by the execution of the three Filipinos in China for drug trafficking on Wednesday, it is but crucial that the government starts this early to focus on the cases of at least 500 Filipinos who are currently detained in China and other parts of the world since 2006 for various offenses, majority of which are drug-related.
According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), 74 Filipinos are currently on death row for drug trafficking with reprieve in China.
The non-critical death penalty cases in China “with reprieve” allow a two-year suspension of sentence and possible commutation to life imprisonment for good behavior.
Only six cases of the 74 on death row have so far reached the China's Supreme Court: two of them were overturned, 3 of them were affirmed – those of Ramon Credo, Elizabeth Batain, and Sally Ordinario Villanueva – while one is still being reviewed.
Also in China, 38 Filipinos have been meted life sentences and nearly 80 are serving 15-year jail terms, while 35 cases are still being heard.
According to the Philippine Consulate General in Guangzhou, 56 Filipinas are currently serving sentences at the Guangdong Women’s Prison, while 13 Filipinos are imprisoned at the Dongguan Provincial Prison.
There are presently 99 Filipinos incarcerated in Chinese prisons under the Consulate General’s jurisdiction.
Drug trafficking of 50 grams or more of illegal drugs is punishable by life imprisonment or death in China.
Meanwhile, Senate Resolution Number 1192 filed by Sen. Manny Villar stated that 111 Filipinos have been arrested in China, Hong Kong, and Macau since 2008 for drug related offenses.
On the other hand, there are at least 301 cases thorughout various countries in the Asia Pacific region wherein 205 women and 96 men.
In Muslim countries, where a number of Filipinos are also detained for drug-related crimes, Shariah law holds that drug trafficking is punishable by death.
In the Middle East, there are 89 cases with 71 males and 18 females.
As of Jan. 31, 17 of these cases are punishable by death - 8 in Jeddah, 7 in Riyadh and 2 in Kuwait
However, the DFA’s Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) has already obtained four signed tanazuls and currently negotiating or commencing negotiations for 10 OFWs.
In Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, there is possibility of commutation of death sentence when the following concur: Tanazul (forgiveness) from the family of the victim to settle the private aspect of the crime, given upon the payment of diyah (blood money); and clemency of the public aspect of the crime, granted by the Saudi King or Emir of Kuwait upon high-level intercessions led by the President.
Since January, 2006, 35 impositions of death penalty have been commuted to life imprisonment. Of these, 15 were already repatriated to the Philippines while 20 are currently serving commuted sentences. http://www.mb.com.ph/node/312080/illegal-drug
Kenyan woman was caught carrying illegal drugs to Philippines
Manila : Philippines | Feb 28, 2012 at 12:59 AM PST
BY jesettextine
Lina Aching Noah, 36, a Kenyan was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport carrying a 10kg of shabu or methamphetamine hydrochloride into the country from United Arad Emirates, last Friday. The said illegal drugs were found inside the lining of her luggage with street value of about Php 45 Million.
Noah is being held at the PDEA-National Capital Region detention facility.

SOURCE: Philippine Daily Inquirer http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/11599050-kenyan-woman-was-caught-carrying-illegal-drugs-to-philippines

PDEA destroys P398-M worth of illegal drugs
MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Tuesday destroyed P398 million worth of illegal drugs.
The agency said the illegal drugs, which weighed 81,693 grams, included methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu); marijuana; ephedrine; ecstasy; cocaine; valium; expired medicines and opium poppy seeds.
The illegal drugs were destroyed through thermal decomposition at the Integrated Waste Management, Inc. (IWMI) in Barangay Aguado, Trece Martires City, Cavite.
PDEA Director Undersecretary Jose Gutierrez said the destruction of the illegal drugs was to guarantee the public that seized items do not fall into the wrong hands.
"We want the public to witness the destruction of illegal drugs, thus obstructing the cycle of the illegal drug trade. This is one concrete way of allaying public apprehensions that dangerous drugs confiscated by authorities are being reused, recycled or sold back in the streets," Gutierrez said in a statement.
PDEA added the disposal of the drugs was in compliance with Section 21, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 1, series of 2002.
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/11/15/11/pdea-destroys-p398-m-worth-illegal-drugs