Palace considering Barbers’ offer to become anti-drug czar

While she is seriously thinking over Sen. Robert Barbers’ (Lakas-CMD) offer to quit his Senate post to lead the war on illegal drugs, President Arroyo said the senator from Surigao need not resign to spearhead the anti-drug campaign.

At a press conference at the ancestral home of Dr. Jose Rizal in Calamba, Laguna yesterday, where rites commemorating the national hero’s 142nd birth anniversary were held, the President said she is seriously considering Barbers’ offer.

But she said Barbers "doesn’t need to resign (from) the Senate for the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to get very close directions from him because he is the chairman of the (Senate) oversight committee on drugs and I think, in that capacity, he can (give) a lot of directional advice to PDEA."

In this vein, the President has instructed PDEA director Anselmo Avenido to "get directions in greater operational details from Senator Barbers."

She commended Barbers, a former Manila police colonel, for his initiative in volunteering to lead the fight against the illegal drug trade.

"I acknowledge the sincere offer of Senator Barbers and this is being seriously considered," the President said. "It was very unselfish of him to say that he was willing to quit the Senate. But I believe we can find (another) way of enlisting his really strong support."

Barbers made the offer after the President ordered the PDEA on Wednesday to step up its crackdown on illicit drugs and show immediate "strategic results."

Barbers chairs the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs. He was also the principal author of the amended Dangerous Drugs Act, which imposes heavier penalties for the manufacture, possession, sale and trafficking of illegal narcotics.

Under the more stringent Dangerous Drugs Act, drug trafficking is a non-bailable offense punishable by life imprisonment or death.

Barbers quit his post as congressman of Surigao del Norte when he accepted the post of secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) during the term of former President Fidel Ramos.

Barbers, quoting data independently compiled by his office, said at least 11 transnational drug syndicates were operating in the Philippines, with one successfully neutralized by the PNP so far.

Barbers offered his services despite rumors he is being considered as a candidate for higher elective office by the ruling Lakas-CMD party.

Public cooperation

In her address yesterday in Calamba City, the President called upon the people of Laguna to support the anti-drug campaign of Interior Secretary Jose Lina Jr., who once served as governor of the province. Lina is concurrently the chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

"In the end, our own sense of complacency and indifference will be our greatest enemy. I ask every citizen to help in this campaign by adding a voice against drug abuse and drug dealers," Mrs. Arroyo said.

"The entire citizenry must rise up against this threat by advocating drug-free communities, by exposing drug syndicates and pushers and by supporting the rehabilitation of users."

"Our crackdown against the illegal drug trade must have a strategic force behind it — this is the will, cooperation and action of the people," the President said. "Let us harness the motive force of people power to defeat this enemy, just as we are defeating terrorism."

Official figures released this week noted a sharp rise in the number of drug users in the Philippines, now 3.4 million from the 20,000 recorded in 1972.

The President earlier cited the successful, three-month crackdown on illegal drugs conducted under the orders of Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinwatra.

The Thai premier came under heavy criticism for his anti-drug campaign after the families of summary execution victims took to the streets of Thailand.

Mrs. Arroyo is giving all agencies involved in the war on drugs P1 billion from national lottery receipts, "which is more than Prime Minister Thaksin had when he fought and crushed the drug syndicates in three months’ time. I have asked, therefore, the drug enforcement agency to do a Thaksin in three months’ time."

The President also took strong exceptions to public concern that the war on drugs may be marred by summary executions similar to those Thai law enforcers were accused of perpetrating.

Two months ago, Mrs. Arroyo issued Executive Order 206 deputizing all government agencies with law enforcement functions in the anti-drug task forces under the PDEA.

Meanwhile, minority leaders at the House of Representatives said political will, not just funding, will spell the difference between victory and defeat in the war on illegal drugs.

House Assistant Minority Leader Gilbert Remulla said the P1 billion earmarked by the President as "standby funds" for the anti-drug campaign is small, compared with the coffers of drug syndicates.

"More than funds, what we need is political will to really go after drug syndicates," Remulla said. "These drug syndicates have maybe ten times that amount (P1 billion)."

Based on confidential documents he obtained from law enforcement agencies, there are 23 major drug trafficking syndicates operating in the country, most of which have overseas connections, particularly in China.

House Minority Leader Carlos Padilla said only P50 million was released by the Arroyo administration in the campaign against drugs as of the middle of this month, adding that the actual allocation in this year’s national budget for the anti-drug effort is only P140 million.

Padilla said the President must match her "rhetorical commitment" to the war on drugs with logistical support and a workable master plan. "President Arroyo does not need to take over the role of drug czar. Her symbolic presence is enough."

Ilocos Norte Rep. Imee Marcos advised the President to "stop giving deadlines that are not attained. Let’s instead act on the problem once and for all." — Marichu Villanueva, Paolo Romero