High conviction rate of drug cases seen with new law
MANILA, Philippines – Now that President Benigno Aquino III signed into law Republic Act 10640 which amended RA 9165 or the 2002 Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, anti-illegal drugs police are expected to reach an absolute conviction rate of suspects.
From the 75-percent conviction rate of suspects, the Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) targets 100-percent with the recent amendment of the RA 9165.
“This time there would be no longer a reason to acquit drug suspects. Kapag meron pang hindi na-convict, kasalanan na ng police ‘yon,” Chief Inspector Roque Merdegia, AIDSOTF spokesperson, said in an interview on Monday.
Unlike in RA 9165, the new law allows policemen to do the physical inventory of seized illegal drug paraphernalia at the nearest police station or at Camp Crame even without the presence of a representative either from the media or from the Justice Department.
Before the law was signed, the inventory of the drug-related materials was required to be conducted at the area where the arrest took place in front of the suspects and representatives from the DOJ, mediamen and elected public officials.
But with the higher conviction rate, comes with greater responsibility, according to Merdegia.
When suspects are faced with violation of the anti-drugs law, he said the complainant of the case should be a police officer.
“So this is a huge responsibility for them. If the case would be dismissed and the police officer is the complainant, he should be the one accountable for that. Bakit (niya) pinabayaan?” he said.
Right from the effectivity of RA 9165, Merdegia deplored that dismissal of cases due to technicality hit 20 to 30 percent.
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