DRUG Providing information, Generating support, Mobilizing action TheUSTER Official Newsletter of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Against dangerous drugs Volumeb III Issue No. 1 1ST 100 days in Office Change has come. Retired Police Deputy Director General Isidro S. Lapeña took oath before President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on June 30, 2016 as head of the government’s lead agency against illegal drugs, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). The retired Police General, who had spent over 17 years of his government service in Davao, considered it an honor to be hand-picked by the President to take charge of a very critical position expected to take actions on a priority concern of the Duterte Administration. “When [then] President-Elect [Duterte] informed me that I will head PDEA as its Director General, sometime during the last week of May, I felt very much honored to have been chosen to lead this agency, which will handle the top most concern of our President – that is the fight against illegal drugs,” said the newly appointed PDEA Director General, who holds a rank equivalent to a Cabinet Undersecretary level. continued on Page 2 2 1st 100 Days in Office 30 Jun - 7 Oct 2016 From Page 1 CHANGE HAS COME CHANGE OF COMMAND Two days after the Cabinet Mass Oath-taking in Malacañan Palace, the men and women of PDEA expectantly gathered at the PDEA Gymnasium on July 2, 2016, awaiting the event that would unfold a new chapter in the history of the government’s lead anti-drug agency. Two gentlemen, both molded by the Philippine Military Academy (PMA), stood side by side – one would step down after serving the Agency for almost four years, the other would take the first step of his journey as the fifth Director General of PDEA. In a symbolic gesture, incoming PDEA Director General Isidro S. Lapeña accepted the PDEA flag from his predecessor, outgoing Director General Arturo G. Cacdac, Jr. This signified the change of command in the Agency that would “handle the top most concern of the President”. “Magandang umaga po sa inyong lahat. Maayong buntag sa tanan. Palaging dinudugtong namin yung Cebuano greeting (Good morning to everyone. We always add our greeting in Cebuano)…that’s how we do it in Davao. I originally hailed from Urdaneta, [Pangasinan], but I have served in Davao for many years that I have come to love it as my second home,” said Lapeña, officially commencing his first speech as the PDEA Director General. At the onset, Lapeña congratulated PDEA for its accomplishments under Cacdac for a job well done. He, then, extended warm appreciation to his friends who came all the way from Pangasinan, La Union and Davao who showed their support. He also acknowledged the members of the security group, whom he had the opportunity of having worked with, during the presidential campaign period. ä 30 Jun - 7 Oct 2016 1st 100 Days in Office 3 CHANGE HAS COME MARCHING ORDER It would be reckoned that President Duterte, during most of his public addresses, has identified illegal drugs as one of the top three problems – together with corruption and criminality – that continue to “bedevil our country today”. In his speech, Usec. Lapeña reiterated the public pronouncements and the very strong warning issued by President Duterte against personalities behind the proliferation of illegal drugs in the country. “The President has been very vocal on how he feels about illegal drugs. He had imposed it upon himself to do the maximum, everything that can be done to suppress [illegal] drugs. So, taking my cue, I believe that was my marching order: to lead PDEA in suppressing illegal drugs under the Duterte Administration,” the new PDEA Director General said. DEADLINE TO BEAT Recognizing the urgency set by the Duterte Administration to suppress illegal drugs in fulfillment of the President’s “promise” during his campaign, Usec. Lapeña said he had requested for a briefing with the former PDEA Director General prior to the ceremonial turn-over of command. “I have a tight deadline to meet. And I had to start the ball rolling to be able to launch a relentless and sustained anti-drug campaign so I can help the President deliver his promise to the people,” the PDEA Chief said. Lapeña said the briefing confirmed earlier statements of President Duterte that the drug situation in the country is indeed “very critical”. The PDEA chief cited the thousands of drug personalities, both users and pushers, who have voluntarily surrendered to government even before the President officially assumed office, to validate the statement of the Commander-In-Chief. Usec. Lapeña further verified reports concerning the drug situation in rural areas where people go the extent of exchanging farm animals just to be able to purchase illegal drugs. “…and so I analyzed our [PDEA’s] efforts and our accomplishments against the [current] drug situation. While we have posted notable accomplishments along drug supply reduction, the cry of our people at the grassroots is that the proliferation of illegal drugs is still rampant in the community,” Lapeña said. ‘HOW WE DID IT IN Davao’ A proud Davaoeño at heart, Lapeña could not help but cite the tough anti-drug efforts implemented in Davao City that began when President Duterte was still the “Father of Davao City”. “Under then Mayor [Duterte], we implemented strict law enforcement against illegal drug activities in Davao City. In fact [up to now], if you will deal [with] illegal drugs in there, ang term doon ay para ka na ring nag-suicide (it is as if you committed suicide). At the same time, we give equal importance to drug demand reduction. We have a government-run rehabilitation center in Davao City na paglabas ng isang victim o drug user, ay nagiging productive citizen siya (where a victim or a drug user emerges as a productive citizen),” the PDEA chief stated. continued on Page 4 4 1st 100 Days in Office 30 Jun - 7 Oct 2016 From Page 3 CHANGE HAS COME Lapeña was referring to the Davao City Treatment Lapeña explained that while PDEA and other law and Rehabilitation Center for Drug Dependents (DCTRCDD), a enforcement agencies take charge of the supply reduction aspect 1.2-hectare compound in Barangay Bago Oshiro, completely of the anti-drug campaign, complementary actions must come being financed and managed by the local government of Davao from other concerned government agencies to spearhead drug City. demand reduction efforts. According to Lapeña, the management of the DCTRDC “When we reduce market, there must be a parallel effort was turned over by the Department of Social Welfare and to reduce demand. That way, our demand reduction [efforts] will Development (DSWD) to the Davao City local government in 2001 complement our supply reduction [efforts]. And it will involve under then Mayor Rody Duterte who allotted P12 million pesos inter-agency action to address the drug problem in its totality. from the local fund to facilitate the repair of the treatment and While we conduct high-value operations (HIOs) to nail high-value rehabilitation facility for drug dependents under his jurisdiction. targets (HVTs) other agencies should complement our efforts by initiating efforts in the field of treatment and rehabilitation. To date, the city government shoulders the monthly Of course, all of these have to be under the umbrella of PDEA cost for the treatment and rehabilitation of the patients being because we are the lead agency as far as the drug problem is admitted to DCTRDC amounting to P1.5 million. This includes concerned,” Lapeña said. after-care and follow-up treatment. DCTRDC has a capacity to accommodate 100 patients a year. The PDEA chief also did not discount the participation of the stakeholders in the grassroots in the war that the President has “The President wants to replicate and expand what is waged against drugs. Being a seasoned officer whose experience being done in Davao. And that is precisely what I intend to do,” includes fighting criminality and communist insurgency, Lapeña Lapeña said. is aware that law enforcers cannot do it alone. He acknowledged the need to mobilize the community and maximize “people’s ADDRESSING THE participation” to ensure the success of the government’s anti- drug campaign. PROBLEM IN TOTALITY “While the President has openly declared his intense The new PDEA Director General believes that commitment to get rid of the drug menace, it should not be a one- collaborative efforts from different government agencies is man-battle. We should be with him to form an anti-drug army required to “address the drug problem in its totality” to ensure – uncompromising and unrelenting. Our battle cry should be: the success of the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. Duterte, Ikaw at Ako Laban sa Droga,” Lapeña said. With the cooperation of all concerned government agencies and the active involvement of the community, the new PDEA Director General is optimistic that the President’s marching order to “stop the drug problem by all means that the law allows” is doable under the operational supervision of PDEA. ● edja 30 Jun - 7 Oct 2016 Operational Accomplishments 5 FIRST DAYS IN OFFICE: A Promise100 Unfolding President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s political will and his strong pronouncement against dangerous drugs radically revolutionized the government’s fight against illegal drugs. First 100 Days: Summary of Anti-Drug Accomplishments June 30 to Oct 7, 2016 Particulars Operations Conducted 7,928 Driven by the Duterte Administration’s clear policy Persons Arrested 8,428 direction and assured of the President’s support, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and other law enforcement agencies Drug Cases Filed In Court 7,002 like the Philippine National Police (PNP), the National Bureau of Value Seized of Drugs and CPECs P8.21 billion Investigation (NBI), the Bureau of Customs (BOC), the Bureau Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and the Philippine Army (PA) have been bold in asserting and enforcing Republic Act 9165 or the String of Shabu-Making facilitieS Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2992.