SENATOR POE EXTENDS SUPPORT TO PDEA

Senator Grace Poe, chairperson of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, has expressed her full support to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Speaking during the destruction of dangerous drugs held on January 29, 2014 at the Integrated Waste Management, Inc. (IWMI), Barangay Aguado, Trece Martirez City, Cavite, Poe said that she will do her best to prioritize all the financial needs of PDEA to be able to carry out its mandate of ridding illegal drugs in the country.

"As chair of the senate public order committee, I am in constant coordination with PDEA through Director General Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac, Jr. and four major concerns were raised to further bolster the national anti-drug campaign," Poe said.

The four areas of concern aired by the PDEA are:

1. Amendment of Republic Act 4200, or "The Anti-Wiretapping Law";

2. Enactment of the "Two-Witness Rule" in the required physical inventory and photograph of seized illegal drugs under Section 21, Article II of Republic Act 9165 or "The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002";

3. Granting of hazard pay to PDEA operatives who are directly exposed to varied dangers and health risks during the conduct of anti-illegal drug operations and increase of monetary rewards to confidential informants; and

4. Utilization of income coming from regulatory fees in the processing of licenses and permits.

Cacdac on his part reiterated calls for appropriate and timely legislations that will give more teeth to the anti-drug law, increase motivation and commitment of PDEApersonnel, encourage private citizens to report illegal drug activities in their communities and acquisition of additional income to mobilize resources.

"The present law does not include drug-related activities in the list of exemptions that will merit court sanctions to conduct wire-tapping as investigation tool," Cacdac explained, citing Section 3 of Republic Act 4200 which prohibits and penalizes wiretapping and other related violations of the privacy of communication.

Another area of concern is the existing three-witness rule in the inventory of confiscated dangerous drugs. Section 21 of RA 9165 dictates that a representative from the media, the Department of Justice and any elected public official shall be required witnesses to sign and have copies of the inventory. "We are proposing to reduce the needed witnesses to only two, to speed up the process and because it is difficult to look for witnesses, especially during wee hours of the night," Cacdac said.

The PDEA chief also sought for the granting of hazard pay to PDEA operatives. "This will definitely boost the morale of our men and women in the field who constantly risk life and limb in the performance of their official duties," he said, adding that the collection of regulatory fees through PDEA will alleviate its need for adequate funding.

"We have already relayed these concerns to Senator Poe and the good senator vowed to help us address these issues with due priority to be able to effectively and efficiently win the war against the drug menace," Cacdac said.