PDEA warns of rappers’ link to drug trade

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has aired its concern over the alleged involvement of rap musicians in the illegal drug trade.

At least three rap artists were arrested by PDEA operatives in the past month: Xander Bay, 21, real name Arlny Dimabuyu; John Kenneth Satahirapan, 27, and Alexis Baniqued, 30.

Dimabuyu was reportedly caught with marijuana and ecstasy tablets in Pampanga while Satahirapan and Baniqued were apprehended for methamphetamine hydrochloride and marijuana.

“This poses a danger to the younger generation whose vulnerable minds maybe misled that recreational use of illegal drugs is cool and harmless,” PDEA chief Aaron Aquino said in a statement. 

Aquino earlier asked the Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, Kapisanan Ng Mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas and National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) to ban a rap song that supposedly encouraged the use of illegal drugs. 

The lead anti-drug agency succeeded in its goal of having Shanti Dope’s rap song “Amatz” banned from the airwaves through a directive from the NTC.