Erap to toughen up anti-drug education amid killings in Manila

Former President Joseph Estrada at the House of Representatives. AFP PHOTO / NOEL CELIS

Amid the rising death toll of criminals and drug suspects including minors in Manila, Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada said he would strengthen the city’s anti-drug education program.

“We have to further strengthen the implementation of our DARE program. We don’t want any more bloodshed if we could help it,” Estrada said in a statement.

READ: 25 dead in Manila anticrime sweep

Originally a program from the US, DARE is a classroom instruction program that taps active duty police officers and soldiers to teach Grades 5 and 6 students about “good decision-making skills to keep them away from drugs and other vices.”

Estrada currently serves as the chair of DARE Philippines with more than 1.5 million school children graduating from the short course.

Estrada, however, was lukewarm to denounce the killings, saying “the drug menace and criminality remain serious threats to the stability of the country and the city of Manila.”

At least 15 more crime suspects have died as of Sunday after shooting it out with members of the Manila Police District. This brings the total number of those killed by Manila police at 40 since the bloody “one-time, big-time” operation on Wednesday night.

Among the recent fatalities was 17-year-old John Red Bapilonia, who figured with members of Lawton police community precinct.

In a report by Chief Insp. Elmer Oceo, commander of Ermita police station, Bapilonia and another unidentified suspect ignored the checkpoint on Muelle dela Rio in Ermita on Thursday evening.

The report said two cops gave chase to the suspects “because the description of the suspects [matched those of suspects’] in a previous robbery.” Bapilonia allegedly fired first but missed, prompting the policemen to retaliate.

The teen fell down from the motorcycle and fired again but was shot by the cops, resulting to his death. The other suspect, meanwhile, escaped.

On Aug. 18, Meljohn Galman, Edmel Santiago and Joey Santos were also shot dead when they fought in separate buy-bust operations in Sta. Ana.

Two more drug suspects, only identified as alias Mark and alias Henry, were also gunned down by police in a botched sting operation in Binondo on Aug. 19.

“All those deaths could have been prevented had we properly educated those suspects against the evils of drugs and crimes when they were young.” Estrada said.

The Manila mayor added it “pains” him that the suspects chose to fight it out with the lawmen that resulted to their deaths. JE