Cebu City body to step up campaign against illegal drugs

ASIDE from identifying the top illegal drug personalities in Cebu City, the anti-drug council will also help in preventing illegal cases from being dismissed due to technicalities.

Lawyer Clarence Paul Oaminal, who was appointed by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama as consultant in the city’s illegal drug campaign, bared the city’s plan in the campaign against illegal drugs in yesterday’s 888 Forum at the Marco Polo Hotel.

Oaminal, former Dangerous Drugs Board undersecretary, said by end of August, there will already be significant results in the illegal drugs campaign.

Oaminal said he will ask for guidelines in handling drug cases from the Department of Justice so drug cases would prosper.

He said the absence of witnesses and misinterpretation of the presented facts are some of the reasons why more drug cases end up being dismissed.

In national level this year, Oaminal said 70 to 90 percent of drug cases end up dismissed at the prosecutor level while 30 to 40 percent ends in conviction.

Oaminal added that the council will conduct case monitoring to identify the top five drug personalities in Cebu City.

Oaminal said barangays Pasil, Duljo-Fatima and Ermita are considered drug-prone areas.

Oaminal said illegal drugs peddling should be stopped since it is reason why people commit crimes.

¨We will also run after stores who buy stolen items in exchange of drugs,¨ he said.

Chief Supt. Generoso Cerbo Jr, acting chief of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) admits most crimes are drug-related.

The campaign against illegal drugs will be the PRO-7’s priority, said Cerbo.

Cerbo said Cebu is considered as a transshipment point of illegal drugs to other provinces.

Cerbo said the police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and local government units must unite in the campaign against illegal drugs.