Lacson tells PDEA, DDB to level up

Senator Panelo ‘Ping’ Lacson. INQUIRER PHOTO / JAM STA ROSA

It is high time for government’s anti-drug agencies to go after big fish in the illegal trade, Senator Panfilo Lacson has said.

“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,” Lacson told the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) during the hearing at the Senate on Tuesday.

He noted 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 headed the Philippine National Police during the time of then-President and now-Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada.

At the same hearing, the senator also told the PDEA to address issues in its custody of illegal drugs that had been seized and were being kept as evidence in court cases.

At present, he said, 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… Medyo mind-boggling ang P9.7 billion worth of dangerous drugs,” Lacson said.

The senator said weakness in the chain of custody of evidence could result in technicalities that might lead to the dismissal of cases.

The PDEA and DDB are proposing P1.979 billion and P258.324 million appropriations, respectively, for 2019.

Aside from the 1.979 billion, the PDEA is also asking an additional budget of P2.58 billion for next year. /cbb