Presidential Communications Operations Office

News and Information Bureau

THE FIRST REHABINASYON NATIONAL ANTI-DRUGS SUMMIT

FEBRUARY 3, 2019 (10:04 A.M. – 12:09 P.M.)
DAVAO CITY

Q: Let us first offer a moment of silence and prayer for the victims of the recent bombings in
our country.

May moments like this strengthen our bonds as a nation and work together for peace in our
land.

Let us put ourselves for the Philippine National Anthem.

[Playing of national anthem]

You may now be seated.

To open today’s event and to welcome us to the beautiful city of Davao, we would like to
invite on stage Mayor Inday Sara Z. Duterte-Carpio to be represented by Mr. Mikee
Aportadera.

MIKEE APORTADERA: Daghang salamat! Maayong pag-abot sa siyudad sa Davao and we

welcome all of the guests who travelled distances just to be here. This is actually a welcome
site for the City of Davao, as we see a collaboration of all the efforts, both private sector and
government sector. My name is Mikee Aportadera and I’m the head of the city anti-drug
office of the City of Davao and I am tasked here to deliver the message of our beloved Mayor
– Mayor Inday Sara.

Maayong buntag kaninyong tanan, I would like to welcome you to Davao City: the
organizing committee, guests and delegates of the inter-agency committee on anti-illegal
drugs gathered here today for this ‘Rehabinasyon: The first National Anti-Drug Summit’.

To all our guests, maayong pag-abot sa siyudad sa Davao and we are honor that you have
chosen Davao City as the venue of your event and we hope that you will enjoy your stay here
in the City.

The scourge of illegal drugs in the country and the government’s efforts to eradicate it, have
since been among the public concerns. This public stir must serve as an impetuous for all of
us to re-evaluate what each of us have been doing whether we come from the government,
the private sector or non-government organizations to address the existing issues and
identify the interventions that needs improvement.
The City government of Davao is supportive of the initiative such as this gathering which
paved way for an open discussion of the current social issues and campaigns against illegal
drugs or drug used in the pursuit of a drug free nation.

I would like to commend the interagency committee on anti-illegal drugs and the
Presidential Communications Operations Office for creating a platform for a dialogue on the
rehabilitation of our nation. At the end of this two-day summit, I hope that we will not only
be apprised on the status of the efforts of the national governments anti-drug programs and
the re-assessment of its results. I also hope that each one of us will be able to find ways to
bring all our efforts together to address the problem. After all, the drug rehabilitation of our
nation is not the work of the government alone, but all of us working hand in hand towards
a drug-free country. Let us work hand in hand in bringing effective solutions to a pervasive
societal problem to rehabilitate this nation as an investment for the future.

Daghang Salamat and again, welcome to Davao City! [Applause].

Q: And now to give us an overview on the efforts of the country’s fight against illegal drugs
and to walk us through the series of discussions that will take place today. Please welcome
on stage, Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping III, from the Presidential Communications
Operations Office.

ASEC. MON CUALOPING: To Secretary Addie Sitoy, to Mr. Inno Dy, the President of the Liga
ng mga barangay, to our fellow workers in government, to our friends in the media, both
local and foreign and to the millions, hopefully millions watching here in the Philippines and
overseas through the various social media platforms of the Presidential Communications
Operations Office and our partner agencies, maayong buntag and malipayong pag-abot diri
sa Davao.

32 months ago, we have elected Rodrigo Roa Duterte to the presidency, leading a hard yet
necessarily stance against the proliferation of illegal drugs. Neither he nor his cabinet
expected an illegal drug problem that of this great magnitude: around 4 million Filipinos
have used or are involved in illicit drug operations – the same size as the population of
several European countries. Hence there was a need to act quickly and to strategize in
consideration of the efforts of various government agencies. The future of our children is at
stake and we cannot fail.

In March 2017, the President signed Executive Order number 15 creating the interagency
committee on anti-illegal drugs otherwise known as ICAD – with the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency as the chair, led by Director-General Aaron Aquino and the dangerous
drugs board, led by Secretary Catalino Cuy – as the lead policy making body. ICAD was
created to harmonize all existing and upcoming anti-illegal drug programs of various
government agencies. The committee adopts a whole of government and a whole of nation
approach in addressing the illegal drug problem. And us, in PCOO, we are a proud member
of ICAD and we are the Vice-Chair of the Department of the Interior and Local Government
in the ICAD advocacy cluster.

Our Secretary, Martin Andanar envisioned that there has to be a name to this campaign, a
name that will set a narrative of hope and life. From here Rehabinasyon was born – a word
play of rehabilitation and nation; Rehabinasyon because we are rehabilitating the nation,
rehabilitating the Philippines. This is not just about intensified enforcement of drug laws.
Rather, the bulk of the work lies in rehabilitating drug dependents, rehabilitating homes,
communities and lives.

At the same time, let us face it. The campaign against illegal drugs is not as rosy a project,
unlike other existing ones. The campaign has been constantly receiving criticisms and has
become a thorny political issue against this administration: saying that the President’s
campaign is anti-poor and that there is impunity of violence. This has never been the policy
of the government.

Rehabinasyon is here to tell the world that the government offer solutions to address this
perennial problem. And 90 percent of the solution is rehabilitation and reintegration –
enforcement is the first step. And this takes years to bear fruit just like how we rehabilitated
Boracay and currently ongoing Manila Bay, rehabilitating the Philippines from the scourge of
illegal drugs is an investment for the future: The young and their children to come.

Rehabinasyon aims to reach out to the informed audience, like us hopefully, for us to be the
government’s ambassadors of rehabilitating the Philippines. Rehabinasyon also reaches out
to the informed but misinformed, so that the areas of confusion in the government’s work
maybe clarified. Rehabinasyon reaches out to the informed but refuses to understand,
because it is important to establish this course on the matter that affects all of us despite
our political leanings and affiliations.

And finally, Rehabinasyon reaches out to the uninformed and be our new partners for
change. This summit is divided into three segments: Real Numbers, Real Solutions and Real
Stories.

Real numbers, the champion is here my colleague, Assistant Secretary Marie Rafael of the
PCOO, will show only verified data in relation to illegal drug operations. It will also give
context to the numbers, debunking fake news and attempts to derail the good narrative of
the President’s campaign against illegal drugs.

Real Solutions will offer anti-illegal drug – all anti-illegal drug programs of various
government agencies and how these programs are interrelated. This includes efforts on
enforcement, justice, rehabilitation, reintegration, reformation and advocacy.
Finally, Real Stories will share to the world the horror and success stories of those who have
fallen prey to illegal drugs and have trusted in our government to have themselves,
reformed and become productive members of the society again.

This summit will be packed with information about the milestones of President Duterte’s
campaign against illegal drugs, as well as how the government envisions to act on this
endeavor in the second half of the Duterte administration.

So to you our guests, our friends and our fellow workers in the government and to the rest
of the nation watching, may this summit equip us with the knowledge on our reasons for
fighting this good fight and with the hope that one day we will create a drug-free
Philippines.

We are partners for change, for a comfortable life for all, for all our countrymen. Hence,
please join us and let us continue rehabilitating the Philippines together – ito po ang
‘Rehabinasyon.’ Mabuhay po ang Davao! Mabuhay ang Pangulong Duterte! Mabuhay ang
Pilipinas!

[VIDEO PRESENTATION]

Let us now move forward to the first of today’s discussions and talk about the importance of
Real Numbers in Rehabinasyon. Welcome on stage our moderator for this day, PCOO
Assistant Secretary Ana Maria Paz Rafael. [Applause].

ASEC. RAFAEL: Magandang umaga po. Maayong buntag po sa ating lahat, fellow public
servants, on behalf of Secretary Martin Andanar and our Undersecretaries here, we’d like to
greet Secretary Sitoy, all Undersecretaries, Director Dante Guiran, our Generals from the
PNP, fellow public servants, dignitaries, baka I missed out on someone and hindi ako
kakausapin ng ilang taon kaya naimbag nga ag sapa and thank you for supporting us in the
First National Anti-Drug Summit: Rehabinasyon, and on behalf of Real Numbers PH – all
other agencies who have supported us for more than two years – maraming salamat po.

Real Numbers PH is not just numbers: these are stories that affect our lives; these are stories
of families, of children, of parents, of families who have been separated because of illegal
drugs I mean.

This morning, the first set of panelists will give us a look into the effect of drugs in our
country’s economy. Please ladies and gentleman, help me in welcoming on stage our most
respected panel, Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon from the National Economic
Development Authority. Nasasanay na rin po kami sa Anti-illegal drugs campaign na kapag
anti-illegal drugs po ang pinag-uusapan napaka-stiff po ng mga tao – Ma’am, welcome
Ma’am – Pero kapag kultura po ang pinag-uusapan naka-smile lahat. But for this time, please
make it a little easier for all of us, mag-smile naman po tayo.
And of course, the representative from the Department of Trade and Industry, on behalf of
the Regional Director, Mr. Romeo L. Castañaga [applause]. And ito ang aming partner po
when we were at the office of the Ombudsman, of course. We’ll see how they do it and what
they do – Executive Director Mel Georgie B. Racela from the Anti-Money Laundering Council.
Nabubulol ako, masyadong tensiyonado talaga kapag anti-illegal drugs ang pinag-uusapan.
Lalo po kapag ang kasama po namin ay sila Ma’am Teresita Ang-See; human rights activists,
kaya ngayon po I’m sure mas komportable po iyong mga panelist natin ngayong umaga. Kasi
karamihan sa atin yata dito ay government workers, public servants at mga kasama po na
sumusuporta po sa anti-illegal drugs campaign po ng ating pamahalaan.

Undersecretary, thank you for coming over. I know you traveled so far. Sa NEDA po, can we
have opening statements? The flow would be we’ll have the opening statements and then
presentations and we’ll ask our guest, our audience if they have questions. So please let’s
feel free about answering the questions po.

USEC. EDILLON: Yes, thank you very much. First of all, we thank you. We at the NEDA thank
the PCOO for this initiative. For your information, I was actually the head of the Philippine
delegation back in October of 2016. Before the Revalida in Geneva, ito po iyong ICESCR
(International Convention on Economic Social and Cultural Rights), where I actually stood in
front of a panel of international experts on human rights at ito po iyong mga itinanong nila
sa akin that time.

Now this was just in October of 2016, actually I already mentioned something about a
comprehensive effort to look, to address this problem of the drug menace but at the time
we didn’t have the numbers. We didn’t really have a complete framework on the solutions.
We just know bits and pieces and I was trying to inform them that it will be a whole of
society – it will be a whole of government approach and so this one if very much welcome.

As you know, we in the NEDA, our underlying mission is really to enable and empower every
Filipino to enjoy iyong matatag, maginhawa, panatag na buhay – iyong ambisyon natin in
2040. And we know that the drug menace is a serious, serious, serious constraint to their
ability to attain this ambisyon and so this like I said, this is a welcome initiative.

DIR. CASTAÑAGA: Good morning everyone. I am Romeo Castañaga, the Provincial Director
of the Department of Trade and Industry in Davao. My Regional Director who is supposed to
be here is indisposed at this moment so, as a good soldier I have to be here. But she gives
me a message ‘no so I just read the message and some information with the slides
presentation.

So in behalf of our Secretary Mon Lopez, let me present our participation, in DTI, in support
to President Duterte’s goal of a drug-free Philippines. So we are aware that the proliferation
of drug trade and drug used is menace to public safety, security and the society in general
‘no. It was a threat to human capital so it destroys not only the victim’s capacity to be
productive in the society.
So, in the question of what industry is being affected by this illegal drug, we would say it may
not directly affect particular or one or two industry because it is all over. However, by its
eradication we can have more members of the labor force and create more members of the
micro and small enterprises who will be productive contributors to the economy.

So we can attract also more investors with the peaceful and more secure business
environment. Hence, DTI, in support to all of government and whole of nation approach to
achieve a drug-free Philippines.

So I can continue? Yeah. DTI already launched aid campaign, business support to former
drug dependents. So this program will fall under the reintegration process as we are part of
this and which will endeavor to capacitate and prepare drug reformist to become part of the
mainstream society and contribute positively to the Philippine economy. So our plan for this
is integrated in our DTI programs and projects which is already there ‘no. So we will not
reinvent the wheel. However, DTI entrepreneurships services are provided through our
negosyo center.

Negosyo Center, this is a one-stop-shop that promotes ease of doing business and facilitates
access to business services to MSMEs. Thus far, we have already total of 1,049 negosyo
centers nationwide and we have already serve entrepreneurship, another business seminars,
skills trainings, business integration, business advisory consultancy, trade facilitation among
others.

And in 2018, more than 547 – almost 600,000 clients were served and part of this is our
beneficiaries or clients from our drug reformist. So having realized the importance of
creating positive entrepreneur mindset, we launched this campaign for entrepreneurship
education that benefits the business and those who are not yet into business but are
planning to become entrepreneurs one day.

Maybe I can stop there because the updates will follow later on. Thank you.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Okay. Alright, sir?

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Good morning everyone. Asec. Marie, do I make my presentation now
or…

ASEC. RAFAEL: Yes, you may please.

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Yeah, I have 10 PowerPoint slides… that will be uploaded soon.
[laughs]. So we conducted our national risk assessment in 2016 and it covers the period 2015
to 2016. Sorry, the assessment was done in 2017. And this is the result of our national risk
assessment. Okay, next slide. Okay.
Please take note this is a 2015 – 2016 statistics. The Philippines is used as a transshipment
point for the proliferation of the illegal drugs due to our strategic location and porous
shorelines. Syndicates continue to innovate strategies to transport and move illegal drugs,
trafficking of drugs, ultimately goes to the street, level markets and ends to the
economically or socially disadvantaged. And the used of financial institutions and financial
products to move proceeds of illegal drugs is apparent.

This is the number, again it cover the period 2015 and 2016 because our first national risk
assessment cover the period 2011 to 2014. Okay, so this will now show a comparative figure
of the assets that are frozen or the subject of our freeze order.

So from 2013 to 2016 a total of 365 million pesos were frozen. But in 2017 and 2018, just for
two years alone we were able to freeze and forfeit or the subject at least of our civil for
future case, a total of 1.3 billion pesos or if we round it up, then that will be 1.4 billion pesos.
If you convert that into shabu market price for a 1,000 markup that’s equivalent to 13 billion
or 14 billion worth of shabu, that is taken out of the market.

Okay, the first one was a freeze order and this one is a civil forfeiture case. All civil forfeiture
cases are pending with our Regional Trial Court. So this is a statistics that we have taken
from of course Rehabinasyon statistics and from our PDEA colleagues. These are just
numbers but of course I showed you a while ago a total of 1.5 billion pesos worth of assets
that have been forfeited or the subject of our civil forfeiture case. That’s just a number. If we
don’t compare that to the magnitude, then we will not be able to understand the context.
The next slide will show the context.

Back in 2017 or in 2016, the dangerous drugs board survey showed a 1.8 million drug user
number in the Philippines. Now just to be conservative about this, from the data that was
provided to us, 175 million or 175,000 were arrested and 5,000 were killed from 2017 to 2018.
So we deducted 200,000 from 1.8 that will end up… we will end up 1.6 million drug users,
estimated of course. If you multiply 1.6 million drug users and we estimate their drug
consumption as .04 per use. We will come up with 64,000 grams or 64 kilos per
consumption based on the 1.6 million drug users. In one year if we multiply that into 365
days, approximately 23, 000, 168 grams are being used or 23,000 kilos or approximately 23
metric tons per year.

If we have gotten rid of all laboratories in the country that means importing 2 metric tons
per month to meet the demand; and if we multiply that into selling price at 7,000 per gram,
that’s 162 billion worth of annual gross revenues for drugs. If we are at 300 billion economy,
that’s approximately 55 percent of our economy. And just to compare this figure, in 2017 we
produce 350 billion worth of palay and 147 billion worth of bananas and 120 billion worth of
coconuts and 94 billion worth of corn. From the PSA’s figures: total crops production
amounted to 965 billion worth of crops – comparing that to our 162 billion worth of drugs
per year. 162 billion is equivalents to 3.2 billion dollars. So our impact, going back to my
illustration a while ago, 700… 800 million worth of civil forfeiture cases filed in 2017 or 15
billion pesos worth of drugs compared to 162 that’s around 10 percent only. That ends my
presentation.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Okay sir. Essentially sir, what does AMLC do?

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: So the Anti-Money Laundering Council conducts financial investigations
for cases that are referred to us and we build up the case. We end up filing freeze order and
when we file a freeze order, the Court of Appeals would need to act on this within 24 hours.
So the Court of Appeals will issue a freeze order addressed to all covered institutions or
covered persons and this would include banks—

ASEC. RAFAEL: Bank, banks sir?

EXEC. DIR. RACEL: Yes, banks. Upon issuance of a freeze order, bank should file a return. So
all banks would conduct an investigation within their bank and then identify those
covered… those individuals engaged in… identified by the AMLC to be engaged in
laundering or transacting the proceeds of unlawful activity and they will freeze those assets.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Okay. Sir, so essentially what we are saying in the presentation is mas
marami po ang umiikot na pera ng droga sa ating bansa kaysa sa agrikultura o iyong pera na
kinikita sa agrikultura. Is that essentially what you’re trying to—

EXEC. DIR. RAFAEL: I’m just comparing this to the value of the crops produced by the
country just so we have an idea on the impact of the 162 billion revenues running around the
market.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Okay. We go to Undersecretary Edillon. We have the presentation of NEDA

and come up with what essentially is the effect of illegal drugs in our economy and then,
we’ll be open to questions from our audience, our guests after the presentation of NEDA.

USEC. EDILLON: Yes, thank you very much. I have actually re-title the presentation – should
have been ‘Economics of drug menace’, but we want the socio-economics of the drug
menace of Philippine society. So just for us to freshen up our memory, this is actually the
‘Ambisyon natin 2040: The life we want’, which we have actually determined from a very…
representative nationwide survey that in summary this is the kind of life that they want,
matatag, maginhawa, panatag na buhay. Si Presidente maganda iyong summation niya eh ‘A
comfortable life for all,’ pero kapag sa amin inaano namin, binubusisi pa namin.

Matatag is really after having a strongly bonded-relationships – friends, family, community.

Maginhawa is of course that comfortable lifestyle and then a secure future – panatag.

And we think the drug menace. So this one possess a serious obstacle to the attainment of
the ambisyon whether you are the user, whether you are the pusher, you are a victim o
innocent bystander ka lang or you live in a country where drug is really a problem. So first,
the first aspiration that will be seriously compromise is having a comfortable lifestyle.

Why, because of low human capital, because of low productivity and all those investments
that are diverted away from the country because they realize and – especially in the
community – because of that perception of having this drug menace in the community.

Panatag na buhay is also compromised, because a drug dependent would have poor health
and therefore the financial loses and then the risk is actually considered as very high and it
has known to really strain relationships. We were actually given some of the numbers, so
with respect to the anti-drug campaign and we were given that number that 25.62 billion
pesos were sees in terms of drugs paraphernalia, etcetera – etcetera.

Actually… and then using only some very conservative assumptions about, let’s say it’s just 1
million drug dependents, who had less productivity – labor productivity. If this output of the
illegal drugs sector and the loss labor productivity were devoted to productive activities
then the growth would have been at 6.5 percent in 2018, hindi sana tayo nag-aaway tungkol
sa mababang growth numbers natin.

Now like I said, this is actually a conservative estimate, if I go by the estimate of AMLC then
mas malaki pa ito. By the way, we are a 17 trillion pesos economy. So the growth would have
been 6.5 percent instead of the 6.2, and this is actually just assuming an annualized number
for those anti-drug campaigns plus the loss labor productivity, just assuming one man-month
worth of loss labor productivity. So that is actually how big the impact is, the economic
impact is of this drug campaign and what is not included here are those investments that did
not come into the country, into the community because of this perceived problem of the
drugs because of this, even the real problems of the drugs. Of course also the problem of
the victims, the casualties in the drug menace problem.

So we realized that the solution to the drug menace requires economic, social, cultural and
legal dimensions, which is actually what is included in the Rehabinasyon. What this means is
you need a supportive family and community, you also need a strong and a caring state and
this is actually the message that we bring out there. We need strong state because of the
enforcement part to curtail demand and supply and then we also need the caring state in
order to rehabilitate and restore iyong mga naligaw. So that they become productive
members of society and we can all attain. We can all attain the life we want, the ambisyon
every Filipino will be empowered and enable to enjoy this matatag, maginhawa at panatag
na buhay. Iyon lamang po, salamat. [applause].

ASEC. RAFAEL: Okay, perhaps we’re ready to answer questions from our audience kung may
mga questions po tayo. Essentially, ang ginagawa po ng NEDA is to look into the numbers
and come up with policies, policy recommendations for government, for all government
agencies to look into their programs and fit it in. So lahat po sa kanila dito puro numero, they
talk about estimates of this and that.
Questions. Mahirap ang numero, ‘no?

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Asec. Marie, puwede bang mag-correct ng figures? So iyong 300 billion
—

ASEC. RAFAEL: Diyan talaga tayo nagkakatalo sa mga numbers.

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Dollars, iyong 300 billion dollar economy, iyong 300 billion na figure na
sinabi ko is in dollars, sorry so that’s one percent compared to 162 billion revenues na in
drugs, that’s one percent of the total economy. Sorry.

USEC. EDILLON: By the way, madagdag ko lang ‘no, iyong sinasabi ko na 6.5 percent dapat
ang naging growth natin, that’s translate to roughly in current prices, mga 36 billion pesos.
Kung iko-convert natin – the tax implication, iyong for forgone taxes kunwari eh, ‘di
siyempre DBCC rin kami ‘no, that would amount to about 4 billion pesos of taxes that have
not been collected. Eh, if we had added this to our social programs, for instance our
nutrition program is seriously underfunded and this is a big problem. It’s less than… the
funding that we appropriated for 2019 is only less than 400 million pesos. So kahit kalahati
man lang noong nadagdag ‘di ba? It would have made a big dent to our… to solving our
malnutrition problem.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Alright. Sa mga programa po ng ating pamahalaan. So essentially ang AMLC
nakikita niya kapag ito may transactions na sa illegal drugs, you freeze and DTI provide
programs sa mga parents, sa mga napariwara, sa mga gumagamit—

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Sa mga parents, sa mga reformist themselves—

ASEC. RAFAEL: Yes.

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: And even those who are arrested, sometimes we partner with the BJMP
for those who are arrested we can provide the livelihood trainings. We have one story for
example in Davao Del Norte because I am there. So we signed a MOA with BJMP for the
ladies prisoners and accordingly 90 percent of those in the city jail ladies ward, 90 percent
are drug related so we provide skills, training etcetera, beads work and the city government
of Tagum when they hosted the ASEAN jamboree, they were 30,000 participants, they
provided the lanyard for IDs made of beads and they made that for three months that’s
30,000 and some of them don’t want to get out because they can earn. But anyway, when
they were released they have already some skills to start up a livelihood project.

ASEC. RAFAEL: And of course for AMLC, do we have a story, can you divulge your story like
you were able to… something? Someone? Drug lord? Itago natin sa pangalan, sabihin ninyo.
[laughs]. Hindi puwede po ba iyon?
EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Itago po natin sa pangalang Peter Co in 2017 and in 2018, ay various
individuals po iyon.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Anong story sir? Nagsabi ka na ng pangalan walang story?

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Well, ang story po ay… well, Peter Co is already in jail so there was a raid
conducted in the jail and their phones were confiscated. Phones were confiscated and we, at
least PDEA, this was referred to PDEA and PDEA was able to identify several individuals so
part of our investigation would include those individuals and the case is already pending in
court for forfeiture.

In 2018 naman, again it also involves an inmate, a drug lord inmate and again several
investigations were conducted in coordination with PDEA and our other law enforcement
agencies like National Bureau of Investigation and even the Philippine National Police, so it’s
a joint effort so that’s the amount that we were able to freeze and the subject of our civil
forfeiture case – so again, 800 million in 2017 and 700 million approximately in 2018, for a
total of 1.5 billion pesos in two years time.

ASEC. RAFAEL: So sa NEDA po, sa Ambisyon Natin sa 2040, Ma’am? What are the programs
na we see that could economically be viable for that part of our society na nire-rehabilitate
po natin?

USEC. EDILLON: Actually, what is really important is they be given the opportunities to be
productive members of society, to reach their full potential so importante talaga iyong
intervention on education. They have the… iyong ALS program po ng DEPED is really very
important. And then of course the TESDA, ang gusto nga sana namin magkaroon pa sila ng
ibang options apart from TVET. We hear for instance stories in other countries were
nakakatapos ng law, sa law… parang you have online platforms and that can be done as
well, cause we don’t want actually to unduly stigmatize iyong TVET program. So it should
not just be limited to the TVET program.

On the other hand we also don’t wanted to be too nice, baka mamaya… katulad noong
ayaw ng umalis ‘no. So may mga ganoong balancing act that you need to do but ultimately
that’s the bottom-line, give them the opportunities, give them that fighting chance. You see
them as a… kumbaga medyo naligaw lang, ibabalik mo ulit sila.

ASEC. RAFAEL: May question po, sir? Please identify your name and then kung kanino po
ninyo i-a-address iyong tanong para po masagot nila.

DOUGLAS CAGAS: I’m Governor Douglas Cagas from Davao del Sur.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Good morning, sir.

CAGAS: I think there is an impression created that drugs are now imported since drug
laboratories have been destroyed in this country. We know that on two occasions the
Bureau of Customs were able to seize billions of drugs. When importations are being made it
means money of the Philippines are brought out of the country because no importer or no
exporter from other countries will sell or will deliver drugs without being paid. Now we are
only talking of two huge recoveries by the Bureau of Customs. We don’t really know how
many drugs have been imported to this country. My question is: What is the effect of these
payments outs bring out the country, to our economy? Because this money otherwise would
have been used for investments, for as you said, taking care of the drug dependents. We
have to use money. But since they are brought out, the money is brought out of the country,
it’s lost. So what is the effect, what is the impact on our economy in this country? Thank you.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Thank you, Governor.

USEC. EDILLON: Well, first of all ito nga po iyong ano… this is the importance of having the
Real Numbers. If we have the numbers on this then we can work out the details. But off
hand, what this means is it will have an impact on our currency po. Actually, ang lumalabas
po ay dolyar din. Hindi naman po sila tatanggap ng peso sa dolyar. But these dollars are
actually very… the foreign exchange, this actually very important in terms of servicing our
foreign debt obligations. Iyon pong mga… kapag nag-import tayo ng makinarya para sa
ating build, build, build, again we will need to pay them in dollars not in pesos. So
nababawasan po iyong ating reserves and it will have an impact on our trade deficit, marami
pong ano iyan, kawing-kawing po iyan, kaya tama po iyong observation ninyo that this will
actually… parang nado-double whammy po tayo dito, kasi naapektuhan ultimo iyong ating
international position.

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Ito po ang sagot natin ano. Kung tama po iyong inyong assumption na
imported that’s why I mentioned a while ago medyo kailangan nila to meet the demand
kailangan nilang mag-import ng two metric tons per month. Pero iyong assumption ninyo rin
po ay kung nagbabayad sila, okay? Ang problema po baka consignment basis since sila iyong
drug lord so nagpapasok lang sila so wala pong lumalabas na pera kung consignment basis.
And kung hindi naman po consignment basis at assuming na binabayaran, ang computation
po natin diyan ay hindi iyong 162 billion, kasi po iyon iyong selling price. Ang markup po nila
diyan is 1,000 percent; so times 10 percent lang po iyon. So that means around 16 billion
pesos worth of… cost, iyon po iyong cost of the production it’s 16 billion pesos, kung 162
billion.

ASEC. RAFAEL: That was a good question. So at least naliliwanagan tayo na ganoon pala
kalaki. So puwede pa lang consignment, tsinelas lang, sapatos. Mr. Antonio Ajero ang Editor-
in-Chief po ng Edge Davao, sir.

MR. ANTONIO AJERO: Good morning.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Magandang umaga po.

MR. AJERO: I’m a friend of Governor Cagas of Davao del Sur. It’s has something to do with
the statistics. The gentleman Attorney Mel said that... he mentioned three year old stats.
Aside from being fired by the President for being delayed in giving statistics; what else
happens to an agency which has delayed statistics? I’d like to ask the NEDA guy: Is it okay if
you have... if you will be dealing with an outdated statistics in your planning? How does it
take for an agency to update its statistics? That’s for Attorney Mel also.

USEC. EDILLON: Ako muna, kami po ay hindi po kami delayed ha kasi... for instance, the full
year 2018 we announced it last January 24; 24 days po after the reference period. So hindi po
delayed ang ating Philippine Statistics Authority. I think with respect to the other numbers
so kapag kunwari illegal drug trade kasi nga po illegal eh so hindi po siya naka-capture ng
ano... ng sistema, ng ating official statistics. But with respect to the official statistics, maayos
po ang calendar of release ng Philippine Statistics Authority. Sir.

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Ganoon din po kami. We’re a member of the ICAD and regularly po ay
nagsa-submit kami ng accomplishment report namin through the ICAD so iyon pong amount
na frozen at saka subject ng civil forfeiture case are regularly submitted po sa aming ICAD.
So iyong 800 million po ay recorded iyon 2017, ang 2018 po 700 million subject ng ating
freeze order. So...

MR. AJERO: Okay, I have a follow question. There is right now a move to legalize medical
marijuana and it’s now in the Senate. It is only becomes a law, it will actually become an
antithesis to all the drug efforts, anti-drug efforts of your agencies. What is the stand of the
agencies against illegal drugs?; because it is a very controversial thing. At least, do we have a
stand?

Secondly, if it becomes a law, are there efforts from your agencies to be in the IRR authors
so that you can correct certain fears that might happen because marijuana will become a
very big industry if it becomes legal and many people will take advantage of it and those
who will take advantage of it are not all good men. They are bad people. So is there any
move from the agencies fighting illegal drugs to have a stand if at all you have and if there
are efforts to be in the bicam or in the IRR committee so that you can propose some of your
precautionary measures?

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Puwede po bang mapakita lang iyong slides ko? Nasa slide bandang
slide 8 yata iyon or slide 8. Para lang po makita natin iyong context noong volume noong
marijuana usage compared to shabu. Mayroon pong statistics na prinovide ang ating PDEA.
Atras lang... iyan po. Iyong marijuana po ay total is 2,136 and shabu is 4,589.

MR. AJERO: Ano ho iyon? Ano ho iyong figures na iyon? Users? Money? What? Kilos?

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Kilos po iyan, kilos.

MR. AJERO: Ah okay. Is that in one year, in one month, in one day?

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: So as of September 2018 iyan po iyong ating—per year po iyan tapos
tinotal. Pero alam naman po natin iyong presyo niyan ay magkaiba, ang shabu ay 7,000
pesos per gram and marijuana po ay sobrang mura compared to shabu.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Thank you sir. Sir, the question on the stand of each agency in so far as
marijuana is concerned maybe answered in the press conference because the DOH and
other agencies, the enforcement agencies will be there and we’ll save the questions for...
question on marijuana for that sir.

MR. AJERO: Actually, I asked the questions in advance because I’m going to leave in a while.
Thank you.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Please leave your staff sir so that we can answer them. Si ano muna, si Ms.
Lilian Meljor (?) ng Philippine News Agency.

Q: Good morning. To Attorney Mel, you said that so far you have frozen 365 million pesos
and of the amount sir, how much actually points to the drug trade?

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Iyong statistics po na binigay natin total is 700 million in 2017 and—800
million and then 2017 is around 700 million pesos for a total of 1.5 billion pesos. Iyan lang po
ay sa drug trafficking.

Q: Ah okay. Sir, would you say that AMLC cannot monitor importation payments either
consignment or cash?

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Ah, wala naman pong magde-declare na mag-i-import ng drugs so hindi
po natin mamo-monitor iyon honestly, Ma’am. So in fact, hindi nga natin—iyong example
din po ni Governor kanina, iyong drugs po ay hindi naman declared so hindi rin actual
payment ng 1.6 billion iyon if ever na i-import talaga and cash payment. Kaya po ini-smuggle
‘di ba kasi hindi talaga actual cost iyong naka-reflect sa economy.

Q: Pero iyong... the latest operations of PDEA and Customs, there have been smuggling of
ano sir of... then, ano pong participation ng AMLC, may investigation po ba at kanino galing
iyong... o saan napupunta iyong pera po?

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Continuous po iyong coordination with the other law enforcement
agencies as a matter of fact even the foreign financial intelligence units like Taiwan and
other jurisdictions ay nagpa-participate po dito para ma-identify natin, continuous pa rin po
iyong investigation.

Q: Thank you sir.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Sir, I think there’s something that I’d like to clarify also. What happens
when... once AMLC, once na may forfeiture? What happens to the money: It goes to the
coffers of government or where does it go?

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Lahat po ng forfeited assets upon decision of the Regional Trial Court
will be forfeited in favor of the government and turned over to the Bureau of Treasury. As a
matter of fact, just recently po sa terrorism of financing, sa terrorism mayroon kaming island
na na-forfeit and—

ASEC. RAFAEL: Island?

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Na-turnover na po natin sa Bureau of—

ASEC. RAFAELA: Puwede na palang mag-forfeit ng island, itago ninyo iyong mga island ninyo
diyan. Island? Wow. Okay, si Sir Ronald Rivera ang technical adviser po ng CADAC [Anti Drug
Abuse Council] Davao.

MR. RONALD RIVERA: Good morning po sa inyong lahat. Tanong ko po doon... regarding sa
presumptive drug demand na 0.4. Ano hong evidence natin na na-reduce natin ang drug
demand or harm ng drugs sa 1.8 million Filipinos? For ICAD—

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Estimate lang iyon para lang malaman namin kung gaano kalaki iyong
aming kalaban. So kung 162 billion… para lang magkaroon kami ng idea doon sa—

MR. RIVERA: Kaya po from that idea that you have a value of drug demand. Ano ho ang
kumpiyansa ng interagency committee in reducing the harm of the drug demand or demand
sa 1.8 million Filipinos?

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Hindi pa natin napa-factor in iyong rehabilitation efforts, ang mininus
lang natin diyan ay iyong arrested so ibig sabihin parang nawawala sila sa market and iyong
mga napatay. So hopefully mayroon pang mga factors such as iyong madi-discourage sila
because of this news na makukulong and iyong iba ay namamatay so—and then of course
the rehabilitation effort also tinanggal pa natin iyon, hindi pa natin napa-factor in. Ang
tinanggal lang natin those arrested and iyong killed so... kaya nagtanggal ako ng 200,000 at
least doon sa ating 1.8 figure.

MR. RIVERA: Maganda ho kayang ma-correlate iyong proof na na-reduce iyong drug demand
doon sa presumptive value of drugs ng 1.8 million Filipinos?

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: I agree po para magkaroon tayo ng at least—

MR. RIVERA: A correlation.

EXEC. DIR. RACELA: Mas malapit na estimate.

USEC. EDILLON: If I may add ‘no. Kanina rin sa presentation mayroong part doon about
having more research ‘no with respect to this problem of the drugs. Iyon pong isyu ng
pagbaba ng demand, dito po talaga—well, the direct intervention here will be your social
and your cultural dimensions and the economic dimensions. This is actually what will bring
down the demand for drugs.

Iyon pong mga enforcement, enforcement that’s actually addressing the supply side of it. So
kung halimbawa po binaba natin iyong sa supply side pero mataas pa rin iyong the demand
and then they will just pay the higher price; so kailangan po talaga magkasama. That’s why
we really need that comprehensive intervention kasama iyong social, cultural and the
economic factor so that we also bring down the demand. That’s why we also support that
dimension and the Rehabinasyon where there will be more researches on this and NEDA is
willing to help on this initiative.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Alright. Thank you, thank you sir. Thank you to our panelist, maraming
salamat po. And at least ngayon nalaman natin na pati island pala puwedeng ma-forfeit and
of course kung ano ang nangyayari kapag na-import po at puwedeng may consignment pala
sa iligal na droga. And I’d like to call on stage, Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping to
please award our plaque of appreciation to our panelists. May we call on Undersecretary
Marvin Gatpayat to please help us.

[AWARDING]

ASEC. CUALOPING: We will now proceed to our next panel of discussion.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Iyan, welcome back everyone lagi akong nandito. Magsasawa kayo sa akin,
the whole day tayo dito. We now move on the second discussion on Real Numbers PH but
now on the social context. Kanina po economic ngayon po sa social context on how the
illegal drug problem is more than a health concern but a societal and familiar problem.

To shed more light on the topic, let us welcome may kailian, Secretary Silvestre Bello of the
Department of Labor and Employment, sir. Sir, please join us on stage; Chairperson Prospero
Y. De Vera; Undersecretary Nepomuceno A. Malaluan of the Department of Health—
education, nakita ko kasi si Asec. Francie eh, nalito ako; and Assistant Secretary Jose Antonio
R. Hernandez of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Tabi ako dito, ang layo ko, ayan.

Now, may we hear opening statements from our panelist and then later on po iyong
presentations and then… gaya nung format po kanina, sirs.
SEC. BELLO: Good morning, Asec. Marie, mga kasamahan ko na magpe-present mamaya.
Lahat ng mga kaibigan namin diyan na interesado dito sa Drug Summit. Actually, hindi ako
naka-schedule ngayong eh. [laughs] Gate crasher ako, kasi ang term ko, bukas ng 11 o’clock.
Kaya lang nagkataon na bukas eh ang Senate is going to meet on the Security of Tenure Bill.
Eh ang sabi ni Senador Drilon at Senator Villanueva, pag hindi raw ako sumipot dead na
iyong Bill on Security of Tenure. Eh malaking problema iyon; dahil that is a bill that was
certified as an administration bill of President Duterte.

Kaya nakiusap ako sa PCOO - and thank you - na kung maari ngayon na lang ako darating at
iprisinta ko iyong aming position paper tungkol sa Rehabinasyon. So, thank you very much
and I hope I will be able to address kung anuman ang inyong concern tungkol sa epekto ng
drugs sa larangan ng mga manggawa at ganun na rin sa mga employers. Thanks and good
morning.

CHAIR DE VERA: Gusto ko ring pasalamatan ang PCOO for this very important activity.
Unlike my fellow Ilocano Secretary Bello, ako po naka-schedule talaga ngayon [laughs]. Pero
tulad niya, I will be leaving early tomorrow to go back because we are still working on some
details of the issue of the budget. So, I have to go back to Manila. But I am very happy to be
here to present the initiatives on the Commission on Higher Education on the drug issue. So,
thank you.

USEC. MALALUAN: Magandang umaga kay Sec. Bello. On that part of the Department of
Education, I think we have a… malaki iyong naatas na papel sa Department of Education in
meeting the issue of illegal drugs and that is because of our responsibility for the formation
of our youth at saka itong preventive drug education. And tomorrow iyong main portion
namin where we will present our preventive drug education intervention, the Department of
Education is responsible for as many as 27 million both public and private Filipino youth from
Kindergarten aged 5 all the way to senior high school, that’s up to age 17.

So that’s 27 million of the—a little over 100 million are in basic education.

And we recognize the gravity of the problem and as I mentioned tomorrow, DepEd will
share our contribution to this issue. But we give our appreciation to this initiative of
Rehabinasyon, because this in an opportunity for us in effect to compare notes, data on how
to deal with this very complex issue.

May dalawang questions na binigay sa amin for this panel. One is: How does the illegal drugs
problem manifest in the children and where does the problem lie? And I think—I am sharing
some of the insights from our guidance counselors natin on how they see the anti-illegal
drugs issue, first manifest among… kung may mga kabataan na na-involved sa drugs and it
covers three areas. The first is in the area of changes in their peer groups, doon sa mga
barkada nila, either the child or the youth is withdrawing from their previous peer group or
joining new peer groups that are… iyong mas high-risk to involvement in drugs.

The other is the behavioral issues at nakakakitaan ang mga batang ito ng negative behavior
in school, iyong sinasabing nag-uumpisang nagiging matigas ang ulo and that is reflected
also on consultation with parents at saka pati some negative behavior, like napapaaway at
saka nag-uumpisang mag-violate ng mga school regulations like cutting classes and so on.

The other is in physical manifestation, nag-uumpisa rin na nakakakitaan ng iyong laging…

iyong untidy, unkempt ang pag-i-itsura ng mga batang ito. So all of those - from the changes
in peer groups, the behavioral and physical changes.

And the second part of the question that was given to us is: Where lies the problem? And I
think this is where a deeper study of ano talaga ang complex social issue na ito. I’m not at
liberty to disclose the details because this is data emanating from another agency.

But it appears that gender is a factor, doon sa mga data from those that are… have been
committed in facilities, this is predominantly male, kalalakihan ang mas maraming nai-involve
sa drugs; sa age - ito ay… ang karamihan ay nasa aged 18 to 39 and then also 40 and over.
So, it is more in the… once they reach the adulthood actually, early adulthood and onwards.

Iyong geographic area is a factor - there are areas or regions that have more pronounced
issue of drugs. It appears that the employment status is a factor - mas marami ang
unemployed doon sa mga nako-commit in facilities; and the educational attainment and this
is where the interventions of the Department of Education is also important in increasing
the level of participation. Because it appears that there is a strong correlation, mas marami
iyong mas mababa ang educational attainment doon sa napapasok dito sa problemang ito.

And as I mentioned, I think part of the discussions earlier were on the supply side, but we
really need to look also into the demand side and in fact, you can even say it’s on the victims
side and be able to really understand the core of the problem to make sure that our
interventions are appropriate.
ASEC. HERNADEZ: Ang DSWD po being the prime agency tasked to protect the vulnerable
in our country; meaning, iyong mga elderly, iyong youth.

DSWD is serving from… sabi nga nila, from womb to tomb. DepEd of course iyong education
natin with Sir, Popoy; Sec. Bello sa workers. But the Department is really happy with the
administration na dati nag-iisa iyong departamento sa—parang siya lang iyong naiwan doon
sa protecting from womb to tomb. But now, with the entry of the President, he ordered na
it has to be a whole of nation, it has to be a whole of government approach.

So, hindi na lang—malaking iginaan ng departamento ngayon na hindi na lang kaming mag-
isa doon sa protection of the vulnerable, kasama na namin iyong law enforcement.

Kanina kakatapos lang Asec. Marie noong kumbaga numbers agencies natin. May suporta na
iyong departamento ngayon ng… sa pag-protekta doon sa mga vulnerable natin na sector.
And from the start malinaw po ang stand ng department.

Yes, it is a health problem; yes, it is a law enforcement problem and siguro when the turn of
DDB comes, they will say we have 5 pillars maliwanag naman iyon - nandiyan iyong demand
reduction, supply reduction. But at the end of the day, it’s not only one pillar or it’s not only
law enforcement, it’s not only health. Mas malaking picture iyong societal, iyong family,
iy0ng community.

Kasi ako, three years pa lang ako doon sa… as drug focal, pero maliwanag na pag ang
naging atake natin ay just looking at the individual, not looking at the Nanay, the Tatay, the
kapatid, the anak, we fail. And pag family pa rin lang, kulang pa rin, kailangan iyong buong
community and so napakalaking bagay na nabigyan tayo ng venue ng PCOO sa National
Drug Summit para mailatag na iyong matagal nang sinasabi ng academe—pasensiya na po
kung hindi ko mababanggit lahat noong ano. I see a lot of familiar faces, my good friends
here in Davao, si Oli from Luzon, from Ateneo ang dami-daming nandito, hindi ko na kayo
maisa-isa. But napakaliwanag sa attendance pa lang dito na hindi dapat ang drugs problema
lang ng PNP. Ang drugs ay hindi dapat problema lang ng NBI o ng PDEA; ito po kailangan
sama-sama tayo dito, from the religious sector down to the technical people. So… mamaya
na siguro iyong iba.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Thank you. So, mas—napakaintresado po, napaka-interesting po ang pag-
uusapan natin especially ngayon na nasa limelight po iyong usapan tungkol sa pagpapababa
ng age of social liability. So, with us here, may presentation si Sec. Bello.
SEC. BELLO: Thank you, Asec. Marie. I would like to greet you again good morning.

Illegal drug abuse has shared the center stage with the problem on criminality,
unemployment and poverty in the country. We at the Department and Labor and
Employment are concerned that drug abuse is a very serious problem that pervades all level
of society including the Filipino workers.

We are one with President Duterte in eliminating this menace with the necessary
cooperation of our social partners and stakeholders. In support of this objective, we have
required all establishments to adopt the drug-free workplace policy and programs pursuant
to the Department Order #53-03 or this called ‘the guidelines for the implementation of a
drug free workplace policies and programs,’ only for the private sector, hindi po namin
sakop ang government sector, sakop iyan ng Civil Service Commission.

Anyway, this is not about a company apprehending employees using drugs, but preventing
employee from drug-use in every workplace. That is why the drug testing is about the
company’s legal and moral obligation and responsibility to keep its workplace a safe and
healthy environment for all its employees, including its customers and clients.

Pursuant to our Department Order 53-03, the Bureau of Labor Relations regularly conducts,
anti-drug abuse and general labor standard seminar for union leaders and employers. For
the record: for 2018 alone, the Bureau of Working Conditions reported that out of 59,380
establishments across the country under the Labor Law Compliance System - magandang
balita ito - 57,837 or 97.4% were found to be drug-free. Pero kailangan i-validate natin iyan.
Iba-validate natin iyan. This is a 97[%] compliance on compliance with Department Order #53-
06.

Kung meron po sa inyo dito na makapagsabi na hindi accurate itong report namin, please
see me after this briefing. Kasi that is one way of validating iyong report ng aming mga
regional offices, baka sinasabi lang 97%, iyon pala 3% lang. Importante iyan.

Now, under the DOLE Program, employers can subject their employees to a mandatory drug
test or cause testing and post accident testing. So maliwanag po iyan ha na lahat ng mga
empleyado ng lahat ng mga kompanya, puwedeng i-random test; baka mamaya merong
mga mag-i-strike diyan at meron daw violation of human rights.

Now, kapag merong drug testing, those found positive for drugs are sent to the
rehabilitation, kasakop na iyan ni Director Dante - for rehabilitation.
On top of this policy we have also what we call tulong sa mga found to be dependents on
drugs, iyong mga mga ni-rehabilitate. Kasi ang hirap naman, tanggalin siya, i-rehabilitate siya,
mawalan siya ng trabaho, di ba? Mawalan siya ng trabaho. Sabihin n’yo naman, “o itong
Department of Labor, ang trabaho ninyo magbigay ng trabaho, iyon pala magtatanggal kayo
ng mga employees.” Hindi po ganoon, because aside from having them rehabilitated,
nagbibigay naman kami ng kaunting tulong and this is under our DOLE program or the more
popular, very popular program especially top Governors, Like Governor Cagas, iyong TUPAD.
This is what we call the emergency employment program.

So, to help former drug dependence reintegration and recovery, iyan we extend livelihood
and emergency program under the DOLE Integrated Livelihood and the DOLE Emergency
Employment Program. It has two program components namely, nabanggit ko na.

Anyway, the DILEEP [DOLE Integrated Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program] - just for
the information of everybody - is capacity building for entrepreneurial ventures which
provide the vulnerable and marginalized workers including the drug surrenderee’s access to
productive resources. These includes - magbibigay kami ng working capital in the form of
raw materials, equipment, tools and jigs, training on business planning, business and work
improvement cost, value formation and simple record keeping among others; and ito pa ang
maganda rito, coverage to group personal accident insurance under the GSIS. So, binigyan
na namin sila ng negosyo covered pa sila ng insurance.

For the year 2016 to 2018, a total of 692 drug surrenderee’s of which - medyo maganda ito -
66 lang ang babae, ibig sabihin ang kadalasan ang mga drug surrenderee’s mga lalaki,
kagaya ni Secretary De Vera ng CHED.

But what is important is that these 692 surrenderees where provided with livelihood
assistance amounting to 6,000,463. Majority of the beneficiaries came from - kawawa
naman ito - Region 5; meron bang taga Region 5 dito? Wala, wala, mabuti na lang hindi
Region 11.

Now for the information of everybody: The livelihood projects granted to the beneficiaries
where mostly related to food, such a siopao making, karendirya, services such as carpentry
kit, welding and vulcanizing, retail and trade such as bigasan, consumers store, livestock
project such as hog raising and poultry.
We are very happy to report that the DILEEP has somehow contributed to the uplift of the
socio-economic conditions of our drug surrenderee’s.

I’ll just give you an example, itong si Miss Carmelita Dumantay, a drug surrenderee from
Mandaluyong City. Binigyan namin iyan ng P5,000 para sa puhunan niya ng isang sari-sari
store. Ngayon iyong sari-sari store niya ay meron nang halagang 200,000. Baka another year
baka kumpitesyunin na niya ang SM Megamall.

Meanwhile—ito naman pagyayabang ni Governor Cagas. Meanwhile, Region 11 has provided

emergency employment to 38 drug surrenderees – taga-Digos ba ini Gov? - and you were
able to give them TUPAD program costing 377,000. They were paid wages equivalent to
100% of the prevailing minimum wage in the region, covered with micro insurance and
provided with personal protective equipment prior to the engagement.

The concept my dear friends of a drug-free workplace has become a norm with private
establishment. Currently, most private employers are not mandated by law to perform free
employment drug-testing on new hires, hindi sila mandated to require free drug testing
before employment. Pero they are not also prohibited. Kaya iniwan na namin iyan sa mga
employers - if before they will employ somebody, they will subject them to drug testing.

But under DO 53-03, when you are an employee already whether contractual or regular,
puwede kang ma-subject sa tinatawag na random drug testing. So, anytime of the day,
puwede kang lapitan nung personnel manager, sasabihin niya, “Director Dante puwede ba i-
check ka namin baka humihitit ka ng ecstacy or marijuana,” ganoon. So, iyon dapat ninyong
tandaan iyon, that is one of the most effective way of minimizing drug cases in employment
places.

Perhaps it’s about time, iyon, that a legislation is passed by Congress requiring pre-
employment testing. Right now, there is no law to that effect, kaya iyong ating mga
employers cannot require drug testing before they employ you. But if there will be a
legislation that would require drug testing before employment that would be a good way of
ensuring a safe work place.

With that law, we may not only have ensured drug-free work places, we will also help in a
very small way the President’s intention of realizing his vision for a drug-free country.
Mabuhay po tayong lahat. Thank you.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Thank you, Secretary.

CHAIR DE VERA: In the interest of time, I’ll just give some highlights. But the title is ‘Real
Numbers’ or what we are talking about is real numbers.

So, let me just start by giving a perspective of what the Higher Education System looks like.
There are 3.2 million young people enrolled in public and private higher education
institutions in the country. They are spread across almost 2,000 public and private
universities. About 200 plus of these are state universities and colleges and local universities
and colleges and just for the public higher education institution, you are talking of more than
300 campuses located nationwide.

So, the higher education sector is a very big, very broad sector and you are talking of young
people who are very vulnerable. That’s why the Commission is fully supportive and is doing
its best to address drug issues. It is the same students, 1.3 million of them enrolled in state
universities and colleges are no longer paying tuition fees and miscellaneous fees because of
the historic law signed by President Duterte RA10931 that gives free public higher education.
Another 300,000 students both from public and private universities are getting additional
tertiary education subsidy from government.

The approach of the Commission on Higher Education is to work on creating safe and
healthy campuses nationwide. So when you say safe and healthy campuses, it means
campuses that are safe from crime, campuses that are safe from drugs, campuses that are
safe from cigarette smoking, campuses that are safe during disasters.

And so one of the things that we did when the President appointed me officer-in-charge last
year was all senior officials of the Commission on Higher Education, we required mandatory
drug-testing for all senior officials and random drug-testing for all employees of the
Commission of Higher Education in the Central Office. Because we had to show that we
meant business.

Later last year, I signed CHED Memorandum Order No. 18 which requires mandatory random
drug-testing for all students in all public and private universities in the country starting
school year 2019.

Of course, a lot of universities especially private universities have been doing drug testing.
But what the Commission did was to standardize policies across all public and private
universities. When you say you standardize policies that means there’s just one system of
doing it. Meaning, the ones who will do their drug-testing are health professionals, the
Department of Health and accredited agencies; that it will be through an implementation
plan duly consulted with students, approved by the Boards of their respective universities;
and that the results will be confidential and cannot be used to discriminate against the
students.

The critics of the administration of course pounced on the CHED when we issued the
Circular; they said we were promoting Tokhang. The approach is: we need identify students
who are at risk so that they be directed to the proper programs of government. We want
students who are not—we want to identify students of a drug problem, so they can be
directed towards counseling, towards rehabilitation because if that dependent student is
not a functional student in school, he will not be able to finish his studies.

So the investment of government with free education will not be useful if the one who gets
free education is not a fully functional individual. So, it’s part of safe and healthy campuses.
So, they can be directed to the proper program. That is the approach. Once they are drug-
free then they go back to the university to continue their studies.

So that’s the major policy initiative that we did last year and the universities are now starting
their implementation plans in preparation for the opening of academic year 2019-2020. Many
universities, in fact, ahead of our CMO had already started it. Cagayan State University did
mandatory testing for everyone, so it’s not random for everyone and the university paid for
it, using its resources. So that is an example of a public university that takes it seriously - it
was requested by the students approved by the Board of Regents and implemented, tapos
na.

Here in Davao, Ateneo de Davao is taking a leadership role on this and we commend
President Tabora of Ateneo de Davao for their very comprehensive approach including
counseling services, they are strengthening their counseling program. Other universities, like
Dela Salle University has been doing it for a long time. So, hindi naman bago, because the
critics are saying, you know, you are suddenly taking advantage of students. Hindi bago ito,
what we’re doing is to make sure the same processes and principles apply to all universities.

Second point, our NEDA representative earlier said she wished there were a lot of
continuing education program for rehabilitation.

Actually there are. Here in Davao, you might want to visit the City Jail. There’s a very, very
good initiative here in Davao City called the ‘Education Behind Bars’ in the Davao City Jail.
This is a joint project of the Social Entrepreneurship Technology and Business Institute which
is an NGO, by the BJMP and by USeP [University of Southeastern Philippines] . This partnership
works this way - the facility is under BJMP, the building was built by the NGO connected the
City Jail and they have two classes on students. So the students go from 9:00 o’clock to 2:00
o’clock in the afternoon to hold classes in a separate facility that doesn’t look like a jail - it’s
air-conditioned, there’s a coffee shop, there are computers. There are two classes right now.

Iyon lang iyong school na pag no classes nagagalit iyong mga estudyante, that’s the only
school. Because they feel that they are not in jail while they are having their classes during
the day. There were some reservations about this initiative initially, even by USeP. But do
you know the results now? The grades of the inmates or the grades of the people taking
courses there are higher than the grades of those taking regular courses in USeP in many of
the degree programs. They are performing better, kasi siyempre hindi sila puwedeng
maglakwatsa, wala silang gimik, saka talagang nag-aaral sila.

This is an initiative that will now be replicated this year in the Davao Penal Colony, same
program expanded in the Davao Penal Colony. The CHED is going to provide the equipment
for the facility. We’re working through the Dangerous Drug’s Board. The Dangerous Drug’s
Board gave money to the Bureau of Corrections for a lot of the improvement of the facilities.

In Manila, the University of the Perpetual Help is doing a lot of continuing education
program in the National Penitentiary; madami nang grumaduate.

So, there are programs that provide those who have drug problems with a chance to earn
their credentials.

We are initiating one in the mega facility in Cabanatuan with Central Luzon State University
but we are still figuring out some of the details. May problema kasi because of the first six
months that they are there, the intervention is health. We cannot intervene with education
in the first six months. After the first six months, many of them are sent out to go back to
their community, so we cannot connect with them. So we are figuring out the problem for
Central Luzon State University will provide short term programs including livelihood
programs in the mega facility in Nueva Ecija.

And then, finally, there is an ongoing research by the UP College of—UP Manila and
University of California in South Francisco, part of the PCARI [Philippine- California Advanced
Research Institutes] Project, its fully funded this is starting now, to develop a drug-testing kit
that can test up to 100 designer drugs. The problem in the Philippines is that our drug-
testing kits, kakaunti lang iyong kayang ma-test. So our law enforcement authorities are
handicapped in filing cases and going after people because the science behind it is not here.

University of California in San Francisco is connected with the DEA in the US, so the two
universities are partnering together to develop a drug-testing kit that can test up to 100
designer drugs. Once this is done, we will give this and capacitate the law enforcement
authorities so that they will have the science behind them. So we are bringing the top
experts from UP and University of California. The result of this will come out in about two
year’s time.

So, those are some of the initiatives in higher education. I’ll be willing to answer questions
afterwards. Thank you very much.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Thank you, sir. The presentation of DepEd and DSWD will be presented
tomorrow and we can proceed directly to the open forum. Because alam ko po marami na
ring gutom and si Governor nag-sunglasses, nararamdaman ko po. Our first question—by
the way doon the Correctional Institution for Women, baka magalit si Sec. Bebot dito, kasi
sabi po nila, walang masyadong nale-late kapag sa prison cell. So iyong mga nasa mga
bilangguan po, usually, if we conduct classes halimbawa call centers, tapos you set it up sa
Correctional Institution for women or iyong mga facilities po natin, malamang walang male-
late doon. Kaya mas gusto po nila na mag-set up ng ano. Pero baka magalit is Sec. Bebot kasi
lahat ng mga preso mae-employ na lahat, pero iyong mga nasa labas, marami pang
unemployed.

First question kay Rowie Quimba of Ateneo de Davao University.

ROWIE QUIMBA/ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY: Good morning. I’m here in behalf of our
University President, Father Joel Tabora. Because of a prior commitment, he was not able to
appear. But I would like—two point, number one, formation of what CHED Secretary De
Vera is saying that, one, Father Joel is really supportive of this government’s war against
illegal drugs. In fact, I think we are the only Jesuit Catholic University in the Philippines that
has four programs.

One, we have adopted 27 barangays in Davao City. We have our 24/7 drug hotline referral
helpline. Can we project the hotline number’s, it’s open to all, it’s operational, it’s ran by 6
psychiatric nurses and so far, in our two-year operations we have received more than a
thousand calls already ranging from questions or inquiry about rehabilitation, questions
about relapse management, questions about health teachings, even specific reports about
cases of pushers and suppliers and so and so forth. But since we are drug hotline referral
hotline, we refer them to the appropriate agencies.

And second point, more of like a clarification, we are already done with our policy as a
university in our mandatory random drug testing for students and employees. We partnered
with DOH and SPMC.

My question is directed to Secretary De Vera. We recently consulted the DDB pertaining to

the policy of the MRDT for students and the question is centered on the cost regarding the
confirmatory test because SPMC or governments are charging thousands per metabolite.
And recently, we are being referred by the DDB to CHED and DEpEd, because DepEd and
CHED will only shoulder the fund if we are selected in their random drug-testing sampling.
But on our own, we want to make it as part really of our University habit because we
envision a drug-free university and the circular, the CHED circular came out last October
saying that all HEI’s.

So does that mean that you will be the one spending for our confirmatory test and one on
one doctor consultation with our students in case we will be able to find students who are in
need of further assistance? Iyon lang po; at maraming salamat for inviting us here. Thank
you.

CHAIR DE VERA: Quick answer: We are going to calendar it in the agenda of the Dangerous
Drugs Board, kasi kailangan inter-agency ang approach dito. We’re looking at several
possibilities including providing a fund for it ‘no, we are looking at the—but we are waiting
for universities kasi to tell us how they are putting together their implementation.

So once we get the inputs from the universities, we can figure out what’s the best way
forward, iba-iba kasi iyong approach. Like, as I said, Cagayan State University they just paid
for it out of the income of the university, they did not seek help. The others are asking, can
they put it their budget, etc. So, we look at all of these. Legally that can be budgeted as part
of the annual budget of public universities for example, iyong private universities, kailangan
pag-usapan natin.

ROWIE QUIMBA/ATENEO DE DAVAO UNIVERSITY: Just a follow up, sir. Initially we made our
own step to address that concern, we proposed to the University President for a P25
wellness fee to be paid per semester, but it is subject to c0nsultation with the students. Will
that fall under the Circular that you issued last October as one of our basis in pursuing that
action?
CHAIR DE VERA: Yes. Actually, the Commission two years back asked the Department of
Justice legal opinion on whether we can charge the fees for drug testing to students and the
Department of Justice already came up with a legal opinion that yes it can be done. So there
is legal basis for it for universities to charge the testing fee for students.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Okay. Wala na yatang questions, wala na po? Thank you to our panelist,
there is another presentation for DepEd and DSWD tomorrow so let’s wait for their
presentation.

And of course for DOLE, they have been so helpful with employing parents of those children
who are pushers and users. So far as of December 31, we have 1,934 po na mga bata na nare-
rescue every time may anti-illegal drugs operations and out of the 1,934 – 1,060 po na mga
bata po ang pushers. Iyan ay during anti-illegal drugs operations lang. And dito po,
hinahanap ng DOLE iyong parents nila para i-employ iyong mga parents po ng mga batang
ito na nagpu-push ng illegal drugs.

And for that of course thank you for our panelist, may we call again on Assistant Secretary
Mon Cualoping and Undersecretary George Apacible of PCOO to please—

CHAIR DE VERA: Idagdag ko lang iyong drug-testing sa CHED wala pong positive, lahat
negative… mandatory drug testing kami. Nakalimutan kong banggitin kanina iyong result.
But we required it for all senior officials and random for all the employee, negative naman.

ASEC. RAFAEL: So far, sir.

[AWARDING]

ASEC. RAFAEL: Thank you. Magandang hapon po. Magandang hapon po!

We have two panel discussions left for today. First, last part of real numbers and then the
last panel would be in the real solutions. And of course without further ado, let’s proceed to
the last Real Numbers PH with Director Derrick Carreon from the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency. [Applause] Saan kaya ako?

And of course we have here, Police Director Mao R. Aplasca from the Philippine National
Police, Director for Operations. Dito siguro kayo sir, ang layo ninyo sa akin hindi naman ako
kakagat, dito po kayo. Dito, bakit ayaw ninyong tumabi sa akin? Natakot sila.

Okay. What we’ll do now would be—we’ll proceed to the presentation, presentation and—
the opening statement and the presentation and then the open forum.
And of course to join us for Real Numbers PH is Assistant Secretary RJ Echiverri of the
Department of Interior and Local Government, Asec.

So we’ll proceed to the presentation from PDEA and then the PNP and then Asec. Echiverri.

DIR. CARREON: So good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. It’s an honor to represent our
Director General Aaron Aquino and the Chairman… who is concurrent chairman of the
interagency committee on anti-illegal drugs. As we present this afternoon’s law
enforcement numbers, the most vetted and trusted figures.

May we present the background first.

As a background, #Real Numbers PH is a project of the interagency committee on anti-illegal

drugs under the banner of Rehabinasyon which aims to convey the real situation of the drug
problem using consolidated data from different law enforcement agencies since the start of
the President’s administration.

Now it debunks fake news and alternative truths. Real Numbers is a program launch by the
Presidential Communications Operations Office that officially and exclusively releases
updates and statistics on the government’s campaign against illegal drugs. PCOO is
designated as the office of primary responsibility for the publication of #Real Numbers social
cards which are updated monthly. Coordination meetings between the #Real Numbers PH
core group composed of representatives from concerned agencies such as of course the
PCOO, the PDEA, Philippine National Police, Bureau of Customs, the National Bureau of
Investigation, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Health
and the Dangerous Drugs Board are conducted on a monthly basis in time for the release of
the updated #Real Numbers PH social cards.

Now may we also give you a timeline on significant developments: On May 2, #Real Numbers
PH was softly launched in Pasig City. Since then weekly meetings have been conducted
between the concerned agencies to come up with weekly social cards. Now, these cards
were published to government social media sites. Meetings were conducted weekly because
of the rapid changes back then in drug related data such as number of operations
conducted, personalities arrested and number of drug surrenderers. At least, 10 social cards
were being published weekly. Aside from the present social cards, they were also published
cards on drug surrenderers; the gravity of the drug industry; number of crimes; index crimes
and the prices of drugs especially shabu. Since July 2017 coordination meetings have been
conducted on a monthly basis instead of weekly. And starting January 22, monthly press
briefing is conducted after the monthly coordination meeting to strengthen the publication
of the #Real Numbers PH social cards.
The latest social cards published cover the period starting from July 1, 2016 to of December
31, 2018. And on May 29, 2018 #Real Numbers PH celebrated its first anniversary at the
Philippine National Police Multipurpose Hall in Camp Crame.

Now may we please present the consolidated real numbers data starting from July 1, 2016 to
end of the previous year. May we have the first?

Out of 167,135 personalities arrested, 163 are foreign nationals including 55 members of
African drug syndicates and Chinese drug syndicates. For this month or for the—yes, for the
last update between the end of November to the end of December - 54 drug personalities
died out of the 2,870 that were arrested.

For calendar year 2018 a total of 450.52 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride or

shabu were smuggled into the country. 94.67 kilograms were smuggled through mail and
parcel services while 355.85 kilograms were smuggled through the sea port. Out of the
9,999 drug cleared barangays, 1,934 are in Region 1.

For calendar year 2018 - a total of 179 elected officials were arrested during, one… or during
this operation included in this figure: one provincial board member, four municipal
councilors and one city councilors. That will be in the next slide I guess.

Now as part of the government’s commitment to weed out erring law enforcers particularly
those involved in the illegal drug trade - a total of 316 law enforcers were dismissed from the
service for illegal drug use; while a total of 145 were dismissed from the service for other
drug related offenses.

A total of 271 drug dens were dismantled nationwide which resulted in the arrest of 1,899
drug personalities and the confiscation of 10.01 kilograms of shabu; 11.48 kilos of marijuana
dried leaves worth 49.78 million were also confiscated.

On the issue of the involvement of minors in the illegal drug trade, this has been a hot issue
very recently. For calendar year 2018: a total of 920 children age 10 to 17 were involved in
illegal drug activities and they were rescued during anti-drug operations; a total of 533 or 57
percent who were involved in selling. And for the consolidated data on the screen as you
can see out of the 1,954 children who were rescued during anti-illegal drug operations 1,060
are drug pushers. And that is a very alarming figure.

And the other breakdown will for those in possession and users; others are maintainers of
drug dens; others are visitors of drug dens and others are employees or drug dens.

Two of the operations awarded for ‘Operation Lawmen’ involved the confiscation of shabu
connected to the content of the magnetic lifters that were recovered at the warehouse in
GMA, Cavite. These two operations were conducted in Quezon City and in Parang,
Maguindanao.
And on screen are the total rewards that were granted for Operation Private Eye which is for
our private informants or civilian informants - 52.29 million pesos; while for Operation
Lawmen it is 20.24 million pesos awarded to law enforcement units.

The next slide will show us the efforts on harm reduction. PDEA has launched the first
reformation program through Balay Silangan. Balay means house; while Silangan means
east, it is where the sun rises and therefore Balay Silangan means House of Hope.

The program provides a second chance to law offenders particularly those who were
involved in the illegal drug trade for lack of any gainful means of livelihood and it prepares
them to be reintegrated into the community in due time. Right now we have 23 established
Balay Silangan Centers and we have 64 graduates. For the health and facility based
treatment and rehabilitation, there were 47 outpatients and 4,695 inpatients which have
been recorded from January 1, 2018 to December 15 of 2018. And of course there is also the
effort on the recovery and wellness programs. On screen: a total of 316,494 drug
surrenderers graduated from Recovery and Wellness Program or RWP; 156,229 were from
the PNP or Philippine National Police initiated recovery and wellness program while 160,531
were supported community centers. I believe that is the last slide, Ma’am. Thank you very
much.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Director?

DIR. APLASCA: Good morning. Before my presentation allow me to congratulate PCOO for
putting up this first national anti-drugs summit entitled Rehabinasyon and I would like to
reiterate the commitment of the Philippine National Police in our campaign against illegal
drugs na ang amin pong objective sa aming kampanya is to protect the Filipino people
contrary to the claim of our critics na we are harming some members of our society. My
presentation actually is a presentation of the crime statistics, comparative crime statistics
which will show that our operations in anti-illegal drugs has significantly contributed to the
declined of crimes in this country.

This is a sequence of my presentation but I will escape the second part because it was
already covered by the Real Numbers. So this is actually the total crime volume for 2018,
there are 473 and 68 crimes and out of this number, there are only 16.38 percent are ‘index
crime’ or 7,209 crime incidents...

Index crime po these are crimes that are serious in nature and they happened with sufficient
regularity and so we used this numbers as a benchmark in determining the extent of
criminality in a certain locality. Iyong non-index crime naman po ito iyong mga crimes na
hindi grabe – these are mostly violations of our special laws and iyong crimes as a result of
reckless imprudence.
So if we compare the total crime volume of the 2018 as compare to the 2017, so I’ve
observed really a significant decrease of 11.49 percent from 534,000 to more than 470,000.
But if you look at the index crime ito po iyong mga crimes na serious, medyo malaki po ang
decrease about 28.2 percent from 107,000 to 77,000 in 2018. And if we look at the monthly
index crime trend for the two years 2017 and 2018 iyon pong blue curve is iyong 2017 figures
so makikita natin na from January to December talagang generally mataas iyong last year
and ito po iyong red curve – the 2018 monthly index crime trend. So makikita natin talagang
there’s a general down trend in criminality.

And in the ‘eight (8) focused crimes’ or ‘index crimes’ makikita na natin na lahat bumaba
from the crimes of murder, homicide, physical injuries, rape, robbery, theft, carnapping of
motor vehicles, carnapping of motorcycles. So lahat po ito bumaba and even I’m not
included the figures in 2017 but really there’s a significant decrease since this administration
assumed in 2016.

So distribution of the eight (8) focused crimes or index crimes so makikita na iyong
pinakamalaki ay theft, followed by physical injuries iyong red pie robbery, iyong green pie
and so on. And als0 in our efficiency to solve crimes, ito po iyong paano namin naso-solve
iyong crime: We have also observed an increase of 9.12 percent from 2017 to 2018. So medyo
nag-improve iyong aming performance as far as solving crimes is concern and also prime
clearance.

Iyan na po. So makikita natin na on a year to year basis mayroon po tayong nakikita na
downtrend in criminality and significantly we can attribute this to our campaign against
illegal drugs. Napapansin po namin dahil most of the criminals involved in other crimes,
karamihan po sa kanila eh involved din sa illegal drugs. Kaya as we operate against illegal
drugs nababawasan po natin iyong mga criminals that are also doing other forms of crimes.
That’s all, thank you. [Applause].

ASEC. RAFAEL: Thank you, sir. Asec. Echiverri.

ASEC. ECHIVERRI: Good afternoon to all of you. Again in behalf of Secretary Eduardo Año
who’s supposed to be here also. But I think Usec. Epi will also be for tomorrow’s episode.
The ICAD advocacy cluster which the DILG is a chair together with PCOO as Vice Chair aims
number one to educate: educate the government; educate our stakeholders; educate
everybody, so that we could answer our critic. This is the purpose of this first drug summit
which is part of the advocacy cluster of the ICAD.

What are we after here – to fight fake news! That is why real numbers came in. Kung hindi
ninyo alam ang totoo, hindi ninyo masasagot ang mga tanong. That is why it is so important
right now that we need to get the people’s participation. We can only do that if we know the
real data. That is why Asec. Marie Banaag here, seek our help also to perhaps finance and at
the same time assist the real numbers alongside PNP. So now DILG will also helping them for
the 6 months of Real Numbers and PNP will do the same.
The role of the DILG this year is to assist and help. But the real challenge of the cluster,
advocacy cluster is to send a message to the world and the United Nations Human Rights
that this government is not only heavy on the supply reduction but also good in demand
reduction. Ibig sabihin po hindi lang ho tayo mahusay manghuli ng mga kriminal, mahusay rin
tayong mag-rehabilitate, mahusay rin tayong mag-educate.

But how can we do that if we cannot give the Real Numbers: sa ilan ba talaga ang na-rehab?;
Ilan ba ang voluntary surrenderer?; Ilan ba ang na-rehab? Kaya nga po ngayon sa DILG
ngayon, we are checking on the functionality of all local governments sa anti-drug abuse
councils nila, lalong higit sa barangay anti-drug abuse council. Ano iyong hinihingi namin sa
kanila? Unang-una, ilan ang voluntary surrenderer ninyo?; pangalawa, ilan ang na-rehab
ninyo na?; at pangatlo, ilan ang na-relapse? Because that is what PDEA and PNP is asking
from the barangays: Ilan ang na-rehab, ilan ang voluntary surrenderer, ilan ang mga drug
pusher at drug addict sa inyong lugar, because that is the basis for drug clearing. Without
that information PDEA and PNP will have difficulty addressing the issue. That is why the rule
of the DILG right now is to check the functionality of the BADAC.

Kasi po sa kasalukuyan, iyong mga Barangay pag hindi mo tinutukan ang ibibigay na listahan,
imbes iyong mga adik, iyong mga kalaban nila sa pulitika. So, kung kalaban sa pulitika ang
ilalagay, the process will prolong. It will not do good for us, most specially for PNP and
PDEA. That is why the role of the DILG right now is to check the functionality of the BADAC,
make sure that the drug clearing program, meaning the list of the names of the drug addicts
and drug pushers will be given directly to PNP and PDEA and for which PNP and PDEA will
verify it.

On the part of the functionality again, we have done the first ADAC local government
performance award last December. And we have given, I think ang nag-qualify lang po sa
province ng... nag-perfect ng functionality sa province is Davao Oriental. At there are, I think,
14 perfect functionalities from other – NCR.

We are doing this to encourage local government to improve on their functionality, because,
again, we want to prove to the world that we are not only good in the supply reduction
side, but on the demand reduction side, which is more important as what they say,
prevention is better that cure.

And that what is what we really need, the right information coming from the Barangay so
that the police and PDEA can do their job properly. That is the role now of try to get the
Real Numbers. Ito ngayon ang hinihingi namin ngayon sa mga Barangay. Minsan ho, when
we had our interfacing, iba ang listahan ng PDEA, iba ang listahan ng PNP, iba ang listahan
ng Barangay as to the number of voluntary surrenderer. Iba rin ang listahan sa
rehabilitation.

We are still in the process of finding the real numbers. Because iyong 300,000 na nilabas
natin, we believed, it’s still more. Because we don’t want to believe na napakababa ng
performance ng mga tao natin at ng local government in rehabilitation. I’m sure there are
more, hindi lang na-account lahat. That is why we are trying to hurry up with the process of
checking the functionality of all local government. We need the right number to address the
problem. We need the exact number from the local government. And with that, I hope we
all find the way to participate in this and I’m sure the regional directors of the DILG are
here, present, and were thankful for your presences here. I hope we could do more on
checking on the functionality of the BADAC and the ADAC.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Thank you, Asec. Echiverri. Yaman man lang at we are speaking of
enforcement. We are supposed to have another panel for resolutions. But it’s best na sa
enforcement side din ng AMLC at saka ang National Bureau of Investigation, may we call on
stage Director Dante A. Guiran of the National Bureau of Investigation, sir and Atty. Mel
Georgie B. Racela ng AMLC po.

May we have the presentation of the National Bureau of Investigation or the opening
statement and then nagsalita na po ang AMLC kanina and then after we’ll have the open
forum already.

DIRECTOR GUIRAN: Good afternoon to everyone. Thank you, Ma’am Asec for your PCOO’s
inviting us today. And since I’m from Davao City also, you are all welcome here in Davao, the
safest city in the world – the world ba? Of course!

To be candid about this, even before the creation of PDEA, the National Bureau of
Investigation (NBI), together with the police had been in the forefront of battle against
illegal drugs. And of course, we have also some successes and we also have some failures.
But I would say that the real battle, the honest to goodness enforcement came only when
the present President came into power and that is in 2016.

And we started – for myself, the start was in the night when I was called upon by the
President asking me some proving question before announcing to me that I will be the next
NBI director. Sabi niya sa akin, “Dante, you give me a three names sa NBI na puwede maging
NBI Director”. Yes, sir ‘ika ko but before I give them, sir ‘ika ko, can I apply as one? Sabi niya
tang-ina mo, marunong ka bang pumatay? Nang ano, sir? Maraming loko-loko sa NBI. ‘Ika
ko, sir marunong akong pumatay, ‘di tanggap ka na, Director ka na.

So when I started, my first task was to cleanse the bureau of scalawags, marami talaga. That
was the first. You could just imagine, carrying implementation of violations against laws and
then some of your people are into drugs, into corruption? My goodness, how can you be—
how can you beat that? So, internal cleansing muna.

And then of course, we have cleansed the ranks of those ano. There is one Deputy Director,
which I declined to be accepted sa bureau, to be one of the deputy directors and then there
was acting, rather officer in charge in Bicol. Thank you, the gentleman oh, General, iyong
kaibigan ko, kuyang. Sa awa ng Diyos nasa kulungan ka ngayon. And some others and this is
not limited to illegal drugs. Meron ding mga tumataggap ng payola, iyon sila, pinapatay ko
na talaga sila.

And... huwag naman iyong patay, iyong ibang pagpatay ‘no. Ito sila kapag dinisclose mo ito
sila sa NBI. If you—in every flag raising ceremony every Monday, kapag dinuduro mo ito sila,
pag sasabihin mo sa lahat ng taga-NBI sa Maynila, ito walang hiya ito. File-an mo sila ng kaso
sa internal affairs and assigning them to places that I know they would not like, patay na
iyan sila, patay na iyan sila. – iyon ang pagpatay ko.

And of course, fight against drugs, illegal at that is not only about education or what, sinabi
nga kanina ni Usec ‘no. It’s an integrated and a comprehensive approach. And of course
one, being in the law enforcement, law enforcement talaga and of course we have some
numbers that might—the chief of a Task Force of the NBI anti-drugs will present later or
now na? Ngayon na. So, I am calling Atty. Jonathan Galicia to please present.

ATTY. GALICIA/NBI: Good afternoon everyone. Please allow me to present the NBI’s
contribution to the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

The NBI as the premier investigative agency of the government conduct its investigation
based on two guiding principles: One thoroughness, and number two legality.

With these standards, we ensure the quality and integrity of the NBI’s findings can withstand
the extreme scrutiny of the most exacting prosecutors in Court. The conviction last year of
James Riach and his companion both Canadian national belonging to the Sinaloa cartel in
Mexico, the most dangerous drug cartel in the planet today and the conviction of Chinese
David Go, Chen Wen De and four others who was arrested by the NBI in San Juan City in
possession of almost 1 ton of shabu in a clandestine laboratory and dubbed as the biggest
haul in the history of law enforcement showcased the Bureau’s distinction in handling it’s
drug cases. These successes maybe attributed to the partnership of NBI with the
Department Justice and ICAD’s stalwart or associate.

The NBI remains the symbol of the long arm of the law. The arrest of the Korean-American
national Jun No, the most wanted drug trafficker in the country in 2017 when he escaped
while in the custody of the government at the East Avenue Medical Center after undergoing
appendectomy and the arrest of the fugitive drug pusher, murderer Maynard Alfaro, the
Barangay Chairman in Pasay City are but few cases that demonstrate that the law in the
country is in play and will eventually catch up with criminals operating within the Philippine
territory.

In the advent of Republic Act 10867, an act modernizing the NBI, the NBI now plays a more
relevant role in tracking down fugitives wherever they maybe. This law mandates the NBI to
handle primarily crimes like transnational crimes - like illegal drugs, arms smuggling and
human trafficking.

In tandem with the Department of Foreign Affairs, likewise a partner in ICAD, the cross
border narcotics investigation on the magnetic lifters was a complete success in Malaysia
and in Vietnam, whereby we are able to identify and indict the foreign nationals who
shipped these machines containing enormous amount of illegal drugs in the country.

This will send a strong message to criminals that they can no longer dump illegal drugs in the
country with impunity. As the NBI with its allies and ICAD like the Bureau of Immigration, the
PDEA, the DFA among others will track them down and will exhaust all available remedies to
bring them to justice such as international cooperation and extradition.

The NBI in pursuit of truth and justice reinforces the integrity and capability of law
enforcement agencies in the country as it brings back the trust and confidence of the
Filipino people to government’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

The arrest of the fake PDEA agents who terrorized the public last year by raiding and
abducting innocent civilians and extorting money from them and the conviction of police
officers who were responsible for the killing of Kian Delos Santos, a 17 year old student in a
purported shootout with the police in Caloocan City are important accomplishment to show
that only legitimate police operations are being taken in the fights against illegal drugs.
The arrest and conviction of these individuals and public officers may not bring back the life
or anxiety brought to the victims and their families, but it may bring back the people to our
side on the war on drugs and make them believe that the government cares and more than
ever we are winning.

With limited manpower, the NBI focuses on handling cases of significant importance to the
government and to the people to allay their fears and spark confidence in our justice system
by ensuring that law applies to all no exceptions. The filing of cases against high government
officials in connection with the discovery and seizure of the said controversial magnetic
lifters proves that the government spare no one in the fight against illegal drugs and
corruption.

The NBI shares the vision of the President and stand ready to follow his lead to have a drug-
free Philippines - all our effort are directed toward that goal. We have dedicated a special
group composed of the most experienced, talented and responsible narcotics agent at the
beck and call of the public and all government agencies to provide their experience and
expertise in whatever assistance they can extend.

Finally, we continue our efforts to win the hearts and minds of the Filipino people to bring
them to fold. They are our priority as it should be, they are the real reason why we are here
today. Without them, we will never win this war. Let us invest in them through observance
of their constitutional rights and providing them with better services. Let’s pay attention
and listen, they are the best source of information and strength. Let us not forget vox
populi, vox Dei. The voice of the people is the voice of God.

We can never go wrong and welcome them and making them apart of the plan. They should
be our guide, because that is the bedrock upon which our democratic system rests. Our
Constitution clearly declares in the people that the Philippines is a democratic and
republican state. Sovereignty resides in the people and our government authority emanates
from them.

We can only achieve this if the people have faith in us and in what we do. We must therefore
continue to police our ranks, put our own houses in order because that probably would spell
the difference. Thank you.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Thank you so much, Atty. Galicia. There is another presentation from AMLC,
sir?
EXECUTIVE DIR. RACELA: Yes, but I can summarize that Asec. Marie if you may into three
basic words.

The first one or probably I can summarize it into three letters, REC.

So ‘R’ stands for our reorganization. So to support the thrusts of the government to fight
drug trafficking, the Anti-Money Laundering Council reorganized itself. We created a
specialized unit that will concentrate on antidrug trafficking enforcement. So, under that
unit, there are… or there two units within that unit. So they work parallel with other law
enforcement agencies and agents. So that is how we supported the thrust of the national
government, by reorganizing.

And letter ‘E’ would stand for education. So, we also created within our reorganization, we
also created our capacity building unit. And this unit will concentrate on sending out our
speakers, our lecturers, our trainors in various training of our law enforcement agencies -
like PDEA and other… and PNP, as well as in AFP we’re invited to lecture on financial
investigation. So, yung unit pong iyon ang nagko-concentrate in coordinating and giving out
lectures for financial investigations. That’s why marami na pong nare-refer sa amin na mga
cases, iyong pagka nagre-raid sila ng mga… or nagse-serve ng search ng warrant, nabibigay
po sa amin iyon iyong mga deposit slips and we can start with our investigations.

And then ang ‘C’ po ay stands for coordination. We closely coordinate with our law
enforcement agencies. In particular, PDEA, we conduct workshops, quarterly workshops
every year since 2017 to 2018 four workshops po iyan in a year, we exchange notes and share
valuable information. We also have workshops with National Bureau of Investigation and
PNP CIDG and other units in the PNP; so iyon po iyong aking summary - ‘REC.’

ASEC. RAFAEL: Actually, that [was] supposed to be my question per se sa how do you
coordinate to get a big time or small time drug dealer or drug lord, so that was partly
answered. If somebody from the panel would want to answer that please? Like how would
you know that there’s something out there from the Bureau of Customs or there’s
something out there in the middle of Makati or Taguig or somewhere else that can be
operated on na mga dens or anything na related sa illegal drugs, sirs?

DIR. APLASCA: Our recent experience in terms of law enforcement operations against illegal
drugs has highlighted some of our weaknesses in terms of coordination. But based on this
experiences we have started to sit down together and come together, put up joint protocols
to enhance the manner of cooperation. Kasi I think there’s no more effective means of
fighting illegal drugs than to work together, the whole of the government approach kasi po
kahit na gaano kadami ang mahuhuli ng NBI, PDEA, PNP na mga drug pushers, drug users
kung tuloy-tuloy naman ang dating ng illegal drugs sa ating bansa hindi pa rin maso-solve.

So it really needs the cooperation of everyone and we are very happy that we have put up
some measures to enhance the cooperation on effectiveness of the government agencies
involved.

ASEC. ECHIVERRI: To answer also that question. Nasubukan ko pong gamitin iyong hotline
117. If you use the hotline 117, it really works and that’s encourage the people to use that
hotline which the President himself has announced during his SONA as one way of sending
the information at once. Tama ba? 911 na ba? 911, okay now it’s 911.

On the part of the barangays - normally ho ang mga barangay rin ho ang nakakalam more or
less kung sino ang mga malalaking drug pusher sa kanilang lugar. That is why it is important
right now that the barangay could also get confidence from their Mayors and Governor
because the barangays cannot do it alone, they need the participation of the Mayors and
Governors in assisting them. Without the governors and the mayors helping the barangays
and ensuring their security and ensuring that they are also confident of sending that
information. Walang impormasyong makukuha kung walang ugnayan ang barangay sa
mayor at governor; that is why we are checking on the functionality now of the PADAC o
Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council and the City are tied. Because whatever information that
was sent from the BADAC to the PNP and PDEA ibe-verify po ulit iyan eh in accordance to
the law wherein DDB regulation has already mentioned.

So again, the challenge right now for us in the DILG is to how… magkaroon ng synergy ang
governor with the barangays and to draft a plan in such a way that they could participate
and work together in giving the right information to the Philippine National Police and PDEA
using the ICAD advocacy cluster in the region and at the same time iyong regional… I forgot
the name, Regional Peace and Order Council kasama doon ‘no RPO kasama din po doon that
we are also trying to address.

So again very important is that we need to see na talagang nagkakatulungan para lumakas
ang loob rin ng mga barangay magsumbong so that’s why we are also checking on the
mayors and governors as well.

DIR. GUIRAN: I like the word ‘synergy’ and this very ideal. And for the NBI considering our
very limited number ‘no we have to coordinate of course with the police, the PDEA and first
time I met, Mel in a very important case that was referred to us by the Malacañang. I would
not mentioned the name of the case; and with respect to the drug operations ‘no, it’s by law
that the PDEA being the lead agency of the campaign or reinforcement of implementation
of law against the violation of illegal drugs, there has to be a coordination with the PDEA
each… sabi ko nga by law ‘no, kasi absent this it would be fatal in the prosecution or the
case. Thank you.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Thank you sir. Okay, there were—may phoned in kanina. Sabi: ‘We have
around 22,000 uncleared barangays pero iyong mga barangay natin, iyong mga opisyal natin
sa barangay natatakot silang magsabi kung sino iyong mga adik doon para ma-report sa
PNP. So iilan na lang, halimbawa 9,000 nationwide ang nare-report na lang sa PNP. How do
we go about to this?’

This is an issue already in the BADAC and with the PNP and how would be able to answer
that. Nawawala na ba ang appetite ng mga barangay officials natin kasi katatapos ng
election so wala na silang gagawin? Papalit na ang election paano si mayor? And then later
on there’s another answer… another question that needs to be answered by AMLC
especially that elections is upcoming but for that of course RJ…

ASEC. ECHIVERRI: Actually po, Secretary Año and Secretary Cuy of the DBB created a
memorandum, joint memorandum circular on the functionality of BADAC. Kapag ho
bumagsak sila doon maaari po namin silang kasuhan diretso sa Ombudsman for dereliction
of duty. That is why it is impossible for them not to perform because we would all… PDEA
and PNP would also know whether or not the barangays are submitting the right names to
them.

Sinabi ko na po sa kanila, sa mga barangays and I’m sure Liga National President Inno Dy is
here. Kapag hindi ninyo sinabi iyong totoong numero ng mga drug pusher at drug addict at
binerify ng pulis iyan, kapag napakakonti ng numero o masyadong marami na hindi totoo
nasa watch list kana agad and whatever they would submit, I have placed in the rules that
you have to submit it in an affidavit form so that it would not be… so that there’s an
accountability on the part of the barangay together with the City Mayor. Kasi pumipirma rin
ang Mayor whether or not a barangay is cleared. Minsan ayaw nga—mismo si Mayor Sara
doesn’t want to sign any barangay that is cleared kasi she doesn’t feel that is cleared.

So these are issues that we need to raise, kaya nga mahalagang mahalaga na i-check iyong
functionality ng BADAC and we have to encourage. On the part of the DILG hindi namin
tinatakot lang, we give carrots meaning we also give recognition to those who have
performed and those who have garnered a perfect score we also give cash incentive pa so
that they could continue with their performance. That is the Anti-Drug Abuse Performance
Award; wherein Davao City by the way got 98 percent, hindi lang naka-perfect. So—if kaunti
na lang perfect na ang Davao City.

So what we do with the local government is we encourage them and at the same time
papaluin kung hindi nagpe-perform. Pero we also give the recognition to those who are in
need. That’s why it is impossible for me to see… to think na matatakot sila because we
already gave instructions to the mayors and the governors na huwag ninyo namang
pabayaan iyong mga barangays ninyo. And that’s—and that should come up with your
peace and order plan which is very important.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Otherwise no budget is that—

ASEC. ECHIVERRI: Otherwise hindi maaprubahan iyong budget kung hindi malinaw iyong
peace and order plan and a portion of which iyong anti-drug strategy sa buong probinsiya at
sa rehiyon.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Thank you, Asec. Question for AMLC, sir: Sir, sa AMLC po ba kapag may isang
governor, mayor or pulitiko na nasa watch list, drug lists, watch list na involved sa illegal
drugs. Do you look into their accounts readily?

EXECUTIVE DIR. RACELA: Labing-apat po ang investigator ng AMLC, so ganyan po kakonti.

So, kailangan po namin na bago kami rin mag-initiate ay tinatawag namin ay magre-risk
based din po kami. So, iyong medyo hinog na po, iyon ang uumpisahan naming imbestigahan
otherwise, madami hong referrals iyan. So meron po tayong 34 predicate offenses - so
meron pong anti-corruption, meron pong terrorism and terrorism financing, anti-fraud and
of course iyong drug trafficking nga and other offenses iyon po iyong mga specialized units
namin. So mga estafa diyan; mga qualified theft po, iyong mga ninakaw sa bangko, iyong na-
embezzle.

So marami po kaming kaso and kailangan po namin medyo solid na iyong evidence para
mag-start kami ng investigation. Ibig sabihin either na-file na po iyan sa Ombudsman kung
government official or sa Department of Justice kung private individual. And then doon po
kami medyo mag-uumpisa kasi nga dahil limitado iyong aming numero.

ASEC. RAFAEL: So that’s the kind of coordination that you have with PDEA, with PNP and
the NBI. We submit the names, you see kung nasa hotlist na ito—
EXECUTIVE DIR. RACELA: And kung meron na pong nai-file na kaso.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Absent the case that is filed against the person, you cannot investigate on
the person?

EXECUTIVE DIR. RACELA: Meron naman po kaming spontaneous sharing kung tawagin
namin, part po ng aming mga memorandum of agreement with NBI, PDEA and PNP kung in
the course of our own financial investigation may makitang kaming malaking isda na nag-
involved sa crime na isa sa mga predicate offenses, sine-share din po namin iyong na
spontaneously.

ASEC. RAFAEL: May pangalan po ba iyong isda?

EXECUTIVE DIR. RACELA: Opo, pero hindi namin puwedeng i-share, kasi for intelligence
purposes po iyon. So, dalawa po iyong aming function - for intelligence purposes, iyon po
iyong puwede naming i-share; and for filing as evidence in court.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Usually ang sinasabi po nila, ang gobyerno natin hindi masyadong nag-i-
imbestiga sa mga involved sa illegal drugs, especially with government.

May I ask of course from the NBI because that’s accountability aspect of our program. Ang
sabi po nila, especially sa mga kritiko, ang sinasabi po nila ay walang ginagawa ang
gobyerno na imbetigahan iyong mga patayan, iyong mga nasa loob ng mga ranggo nila, nasa
loob ng mga ahensiya nila na gumagawa o nagta-transact din ng illegal na droga, na mga
protector and the like. May we ask from the NBI, the PNP and the PDEA to comment on
that?

DIR. GUIRAN: Briefly, pag inere-refer sa amin sigurado iyan, iimbestigahan iyan period.

ASEC. RAFAEL: You know, the problem every time that we have Real Numbers, BOC is
there, NBI is there, PNP is there and PDEA is there. Pag may kinakasuhan ang NBI, sa next
meeting wala sila, kasi may kinasuhan halimbawa sa PNP or sa BOC. Kaya nahihirapan din
kami. You know, that’s part of government service, sometimes, it’s so uncomfortable to
work and not think about your relationships with, you know, counterparts, but it happens all
the time. And this time, I haven’t seen Atty. Galicia, because of course they just filed a case
against some officials sa ibang ahensiya, pero nagtatrabaho pa rin kami. Next meeting doon
din kami sa kabila, sa kanila po sa NBI. Sir?

DIR. APLASCA: Ma’am, unang-una po, hindi po totoo na kapag ang involved sa illegal drugs
ay government officials, sa PNP, NBI ay hindi namin ina-address. In fact, they have become
our priorities kapag government officials. In the PNP, we automatically categorize them as
part of the high-value targets. It is a lamentable reality na even up to today, we still continue
to apprehend police officers involved in illegal drugs in various areas.

As of today, we have dismissed I think more than 700 personnel already, some of them had
died during our police operations ng aming counter intelligence task force and also marami
din kaming mga nahuli na mga government officials most of them are Barangay Captains,
may mga ibang government officials din kami. Marami po.

So unang-una, hindi po totoo talaga na prinoprotektahan namin kapag government

employees, sila iyong aming priority targets.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Kaya, sir pinagtabi ko kayo Director, kasi po inimbestigahan ng NBI and PNP
most of the time. Kasi mas maraming ang PNP than the NBI, so usually ang nangyayari kapag
nag-o-operate ang PNP, may mga relatives ng mga namatayan halimbawa or may mga
relatives na-confiscatan o nakuha, na-detain ng mga… na involved sa illegal drugs,
pumupunta sila sa NBI na magsumbong. So, this is how we work, this is how government
works, accountability and transparency. So hindi totoo na marami tayong tinatago po sa
ating programa sa illegal drugs. PDEA, sir.

DIR. CARREON: Thank you, Ma’am. Yes, in addition to you, nabanggit na po ng counterparts
natin from the NBI, from the PNP.

Iyon pong sinasabi ninyo, Ma’am, na unang-una kapag nakapatay ay we share the same
protocols with the NBI and PNP. Moto propio po iyan, iyong internal affairs service ng PDEA
i-imbestigahan iyong mga ahente kung bakit may namatay during operation. So, ipapatawag
po iyan at kapag may karagdagan pang kaso iyan, kunwari may allegations ng irregularity
during the conduct of the operation, ire-relieve pa nga iyan, dadalhin sa national office,
floating iyong ahente para kaagad-agad maibestigahan ng internal affairs.

On top of that Director General Aaron Aquino is very keen on implementing internal
cleansing, just like our counterparts from other agencies. I never tolerate misdemeanors of
any kind, maliit o malaking kalokohan, kalokohan pa rin iyan. So definitely po iyan ipinapa-
imbestigahan, nire-relieve niya kaagad, whether… hindi lang po ahente, marami na pong na-
relieve na in fact, floating ngayon, Directors.

So, tama po iyong sinabi ng ating counterparts, this is a no nonsense campaign. We look
outward against high value targets, but we also look inward para naman po hindi mawala
ang pagtitiwala ninyo sa aming mga nagpapatupad ng batas.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Ah kaya sa PDEA kapag nasa central ka, floating ka, iniimbestigahan ka,
parang ganoon yata ano. Let’s go to the open forum, kung may tanong po tayo from the
audience. Yes, Asec.

ASEC ECHIVERRRI: Asec, just to relate to what you have mentioned. Although hindi—ang
local government hindi katulad nila, pero may DDB regulation na ipinasa sila Secretary Cuy
and DBB Board on the one strike policy. Na ngayon, we are now creating a memorandum
circular for all local government to create an ordinance for themselves. Encourage them to
create an ordinance stating that there is one strike policy rule - kapag nahuli ka involved sa
illegal drugs or upon random drug testing which is mandatory na positive ka, one strike
policy na pai-implement ngayon.

But I think Civil Service is also questioning it at this point in time. Pero, I think for local
government, it could be a policy now, we’re still waiting for the signature of Secretary
Eduardo Año.

ASEC RAFAEL: Sa AMLC ine-imbestigahan din ninyo ang sarili ninyo, sir?

EXECUTIVE DIR. RACELA: Sa amin, wala namang involved. Pero gusto ko lang i-highlight - in
coordination with PDEA, meron din kaming Mayor na nakasuhan at na-freeze iyong assets
worth 30 to 40 million pesos. So, hindi naman po totoo na kapag pulitiko, hindi natin ine-
imbestigahan.

ASEC. RAFAEL: May pangalan ba iyan, sir?

EXECUTIVE DIR. RACELA: May pangalan, kaya lang hindi ko maitago iyong pangalan.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Kasi the case was already filed.

EXECUTIVE DIR. RACELA: That is correct. May freeze order po iyan at saka magpa-file na
kami ng civil forfeiture case.
ASEC. RAFAEL: And you don’t want to mention the name, sir?

EXECUTIVE DIR. RACELA: Baka si PDEA po gustong sabihin, paro...

ASEC. RAFAEL: Because its’ already filed. The case is already filed in court and there’s
already a forfeiture proceedings. So you cannot talk about the Mayor? Ay grabe sila.

DIR. CARREON: Ma’am papalapit na ang eleksyon eh, baka mamaya malagyan ng ano...

ASEC. RAFAEL: Ah siguro antayin natin. Tayo-tayo lang naman dito baka puwede ninyong
sabihin kung sino siya. Tumatakbo na siya? Anong region, siya, sir?

EXECUTIVE DIR. RACELA: Parang patay na po yata.

ASEC. RACELA: Ay wag na, okay. Sige open forum na tayo. Sir, please introduce your name
and kung may organization po kayo or agency and then ano po iyong tanong and kung
kanino po.

ALFRED: Good afternoon, I’m Alfred of social media. To PDEA or PNP: Is there a
disqualifications po ba to the narco-politicians or iyong politicians na tumatakbo for midterm
election? How can you… say on that? Disqualification.

DIR. GUIRAN: So far wala pa sa amin.

DIR. APLASCA: Kung tatanungin sana ang PNP, gusto namin maging disqualification iyan.
Kaya lang, I think it’s a question of law that Comelec has to address.

DIR, CARREON: Same stand po sa amin. Kung pupuwede lang i-disqual—pero kasi under
Comelec po iyan eh. I am not a lawyer, but perhaps it will entail an amendment of the
Omnibus Election Code. Walang iniwan po iyan doon sa requirement dati na ang kandidato
na tumatakbo para sa public position, dati required na mag drug test, pero nagkaroon ng
ruling ang Supreme Court na hindi na rin po kailangan dahil it’s runs counter to the
provisions on the Omnibus Election Code.

So sa ngayon po, kami together with our counterparts in law enforcement hanggang
panawagan lang ho kami sa taumbayan. Kung alam n’yo naman po na kanina-hinala ang
gawain ng isang opisyal seeking public office for any position whether barangay paakyat, eh
parang-awa na natin wag na nating iboto, kung hindi pauupuin pa natin iyong may problema.
Ibigay ho natin iyong tiwala natin sa isang taong malayo-layo doon, wag na sa droga. Siguro
di bale kunwari chickboy siya, sige na lang, wag lang pusher o wag lang druglord hindi ho ba,
example lang.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Seniority muna, si Governor po and then si Ma’am sa likod and then si Usec.
Egco.

GOVERNOR: Thank you. I’m really a Senior Citizen, I’m 75 years old.

Usec. Echiverri, you answered a question na that was asked several times in silence. What is
the purpose of this 1st Anti-Drug Summit? You answer was that we want to fight false news,
disinformation. Listening to all of you, as well as those who spoke this morning, lahat good
news, good performance. But we know that false news comes from many directions. It
comes from those who are enemies of this government, those druglords themselves, drug-
users. But looking at social media including YouTube, Facebook, even the use of messenger,
PM and many others we know that—personal message, PM.

Alas-dos pa ng umaga nagpe-Facebook na ako and everybody is doing that. Kanina rito lahat
kami naglinya diyan, lahat naka-cellphone po.

Now, my question is this: Cybercrime I think is a special crime that is punished very highly.
Don’t you think—but of course the problem is it might one counter against freedom of the
press, freedom of communication. But if we should file—you know, iyong sa YouTube,
nagsasabing masama sa gobyerno natin. We should be filing cases against these guys. I
mean, can we not focus them on fighting them through cybercrime cases? Because that is
what they are using now. You know ang social media, you can look at it anytime, ang
television wala iyan, pero mag-social media, iyon ang pinaka-damaging media ngayon
against government. I hope that we focus on this, paano more effective ang ating fight
against those who destroy this government.

ASEC. EHIVERRI: Just to answer Governor about it ‘no. There is I think a security feature
Facebook applies. I remember when I posted about the bully, iyong sa Ateneo bully, it went
viral, pero the next day, talagang tinatanggal nila. So anything that is harmful or contrary
against the policy or public morals, I think Facebook is very responsible on that most
especially if you report it at once. So, I think on that end, Facebook is very conscious on that,
because Philippines is known to be one of the highest in terms of internet use. So—but we
were also considering that, most especially on propaganda mabilis naman hong nagre-
respond ang Facebook. But points well taken, sir, we will take note of that, sir.

GOVERNOR: Filing cases against these cybercrime violators.

ASEC. EHIVERRI: I think there is a law on that. We can actually, as head of the advocacy
cluster, we can and we will.

CHRISTINE: Thank you for the recognition Madame Moderator. I am Christine from the
Sangguninang Kabataan from the Municipality of Malay, the home of Boracay Island.

And good afternoon everyone, especially to our honorable dignitaries on stage, it is such a
great opportunity to talk in front of you and to ask a query.

May I ask our honorable moderator if I can direct a query to three of our invited panelist.

The first thing that I would like ask is addressed to our honorable dignitary from the
Philippine National Police, sir. I am also one of the members of the Barangay Anti-Drug
Abuse Council, being an ex-officio member of it because I am the SK Chairperson of our
Barangay. And as public officials, we are given the task to coordinate with Barangay Auxiliary
Team on the—there are two sections in the BADAC - the advocacy and the operations. And
we are on the advocacy part and… but I also have—the Barangay Kagawad’s are in the
operation and this concern is about them. In that case is that, every Barangay Kagawad is
tasked to coordinate with the Barangay Auxiliary Team. Those are the different persons in
their respective sitio or zone or purok wherein they have to get data on their area and they
have to give the data to the Barangay Kagawad assigned - the number of… they are
suspected for example drug-user or drug-pusher or whatsoever any transaction about
illegal drugs.

In that case, the Barangay is actually based—according to my knowledge is required to

submit the data of the drug list to the Philippine National Police. And my concern is that
according to DILG, the Barangay official is actually entitled to possible sanctions or even can
be filed with… puwedeng mapaalis sa puwesto. Sir? Okay, administrative case.

So in that case, on the part of the Barangay—because this is actually a query of a Barangay
Kagawad to me before, is that: How can we see, how can we ensure… on the part of the
verification process, how can we protect ourselves—themselves rather, because how can
they protect themselves if the data of the druglist—the Barangay will submit the data to the
PNP. But, it is not included on the process that the PNP is going to submit their data to the
Barangay. How can we ensure in that matter, sir—how do you do the verification process?

DIR. APLASCA: Hindi ko malaman kung naiintindihan ko iyong question. But iyon bang
tinanong mo is iyong PNP isa-submit namin din iyong mga pangalan sa BADAC?

In our process, I think we cannot include the name of a person doon sa ating watch list pag
hindi iyan dumaan sa BADAC. The process will start from the BADAC, which nandoon din po
iyong ating mga pulis, kasama doon sa deliberation ng BADAC iyong ating mga pulis.

CHRISTINE: Okay, sir. The query is just, we actually have conducted the orientation on
building coalition against drug-abuse and we have a speaker there from the PDEA. According
to the PDEA is that the PNP have to give a copy of their drug list to the Barangay. But
according as we asked during our meeting with the PNP, the PNP said it’s not going to give
data to the Barangay.

ASEC. RAFAEL: All right, okay. Ma’am, thank you. The question I think is: what the process
with BADAC in reporting drug suspects in their area? It’s basically that.

CHRISTINE: Yes, thank you, Ma’am for your enlightening.

DIR. CARREON: May I, Ma’am. Perhaps our good Madame is pertaining to the board
regulation which might have been discussed which might have been discussed sa inyo po -
Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 3, Series of 2017 on strengthening the
operationalization of the Barangay Drug clearing program.

Basically po in a nutshell iyong gaya ng nabanggit kanina ni Asec. Echeverri, the generation
of the watch list emanates really from the Barangay.

Now perhaps, I am not privy to whom might have been your PDEA resource person during
that time or if the way it was communicated might have been taken out of context. Because
ideally, the intelligence cycle begins from the Barangay and that is what is mandated in
Board Regulation No. 3, Series of 2017. Iyon pong listahan ninyo magmumula doon, ia-akyat
sa police and then sa amin, magwo-workshop kami and in tandem with even the NBI
especially in the region; because I was also assigned as a regional director once.

I don’t think its part of the process for us to give our list sa inyo, not unless it’s already
vetted list wherein ito, kung ang taong ito, wanted may warrant, baka puwede ninyo kaming
tulungan na mahanap. But if it is intelligence material, I don’t think it will be both ways na we
will submit to you, but rather it’s you submitting to the authorities - whether PNP, PDEA, NBI
- so that we can do a workshop on it and eventually come out with a validation as to
whether or not the person is involved indeed in illegal drug activities. And then kapag iyan
na-file-an ng kaso, babalik kami sa inyo, dahil baka nga nagtatago po doon sa inyo.

CHRISTINE: Thank you, sir. That’s the answer that I would like to hear. And I’m going to
relay that to our barangay. And may I direct another question to PDEA?

ASEC. RAFAEL: On last question, because there’s a plenty of hands up.

CHRISTINE: This is actually very trending right now and I’ve seen the data that you have
presented earlier that there are 1,954 children and youth from 9 to 17 years old who are
involved in illegal drugs activities. And may I ask to our honorable dignitary from the PDEA,
since these are actually vulnerable part of the society: How do you handle those who are
rescued and those who are involved? Thank you so much for the time.

DIR. CARREON: May we request for the social card, the updated social card which we
flashed a while ago showing the involvement of minors in the illegal drug trade.

As mentioned by our honorable SK official, yes, it’s 1,954 of which more than a thousand
were arrested while in the act of pushing. The protocols of course will follow the procedures
as laid out in Republic Act 9344 of which there is a now pending House of Representatives
Bill to amend this and then the Senate counterpart bill has also already been passed
lowering the age of responsibility. Tinanggal nga nila, sir, iyong criminal and social, basta of
age of responsibility to 12.

Of course, the protocol will always be in accordance with law. We’d like to make it clear,
Madame, I was there during that much celebrated operation on January 16 in the Fish Port
of Navotas City and then followed by several other operations wherein parents or adults
were actually carrying or bringing with them children while negotiating illegal drugs.
Fortunately the Navotas operation was supported by video surveillance, showing the
children actually there, habang nagpapasahan po ng sachet and about one of two children
while inside the drug den actually laying down shabu on a foil, lighting it and then sharing it
with iyong parokyano ng drug din.

How and why will law enforcement turn a blind eye to this lingering issue which has been
pestering for decades. People are always asking: Ano po ang gagawin natin sa mga batang
nasa lansangan? Ngayon po at nakaisip si Director Aaron Aquino ng tangible na programa,
which will involve all law enforcement, all other stakeholders, local government, even the
private sector. A project Sagip Batang Lansangan or Sagip Batang Solvent will soon be
launched within this month of February. And it will be a nationwide effort para po iyong mga
batang nasa lansangan, we give them something better, we give them a better option.

So Ma’am, we look forward to working in tandem with you on this. Kasi nga po, sabi ni
Director General natin, itong mga batang ito are on the street simply because their parents
allow them to be there to earn any kind of money by legal or illegal means. And this is why
once and for all we have to address this upang mawala na po iyong stigma na itong mga
batang ito nagiging vicious cycle lang Ma’am, eh.

Si Ma’am, Asec Marie is a lawyer. Alam po niya iyan eh - rescue, counseling ng social welfare
officer ng LGU, mamaya balik sa magulang bukas makalawa, sir, nasa kalsada na naman. Eh
puputian tayo lahat ng buhok nito hindi matatapos po ito, so dapat lang talaga once and for
all there should be tangible program upang matugunan po natin ito. And we are looking
forward to working hand and hand with both the public and private sector in addressing this
problem. Maraming salamat po.

USEC EGCO: Thank Asec. Marie Rafael; and good afternoon, sirs. First, I’d like to
congratulate Rehabinasyon, Asec. Mon for the successful holding of this National Anti-Drug
Summit and of course I’d like to congratulate all the gentlemen in front of us for a job well
done. And tama po iyong sinabi ni Asec RJ kanina, napakagandang opportunity nito. I think
na-raise din ni Gov. ano iyong ating objective dito ano. That’s number one, I learned a lot. So,
sabay-sabay nag-present iyong mga law enforcement agencies natin, nakita natin iyong real
status.

And the other beauty of this summit is this: Because of this we were able to identify not
lapses, not weaknesses but I should say vulnerabilities. So I’d like to cite some of those cited
by Asec. Echeverri and I’m going to cite this with the purpose of finding the synergy, the
solution to address this vulnerability.

Number one, iyon pong sa BADAC. So everything starts - the anti-drug campaign of the
government, all of us, starts with identifying who the drug traders are, the peddlers, the
pushers and the drug users. And I find the disconnect, I think the disconnect lies—you know,
sabi mo nga kanina - correct me if I am wrong Asec. Echiverri - parang nagkakakaiba-iba
iyong data. So, parang may ibang listahan ng PDEA, PNP and of course iyong local
government specifically iyong Barangay. So, I think their lies the disconnect, sa
identification.

I think – again, correct me if I’m wrong - we may be putting too much burden on our
Barangay officials. Why? Because, number one, as you pointed one—well, number one, they
are prone to threats from the local eh. If the Baragay officials’ neighbor is the pusher, di bale
nang i-sanction mo na ako DILG, wag lang niya akong patayin. Something like that. So, we
cannot—no matter how we threaten them with sanctions, pag sinabi niyang, iyong mga
anak ko baka granadahin eh. So, that’s one of the vulnerability na nakita natin.

Number two, yes that’s politics, baka magalit si Mayor kung ilista ko iyong pinsan niya. That’s
number two; and number three na matinding vulnerability, is the involvement of local
barangay officials themselves in the drug trade. So, parang ito iyong disconnect na kaya
nagkakaproblema sa list dahil present iyong tatlong problema na iyon - politics, threats and
they are not capable of defending themselves.

So, I’m looking at it like—again, I’m saying this so I can hear your wisdom on how to
synergize ‘no to address these vulnerabilities. Kasi parang iyon nga ano - Barangay officials
are not equipped, they are not trained specifically in intelligence gathering and I think that’s
basically a law enforcement function. If the list would come from PDEA, walang magagalit sa
barangay official - for instance lang, sir ‘no - … or the PNP, hindi sa akin. I’m the Barangay
Captain. Talagang may pressure eh.

So, kung manggagaling sa law enforcement through their effective intelligence gathering
mechanisms, dadalhin sa akin, siguro ang magiging function na lang ng local is for
rehabilitation. I can identify all drug-users in my barangay with the intention of enrolling
them in a rehabilitation program. But in so far as prosecution or raids or law enforcement
operations are concerned, that would put me and my family in very grave danger.

So talagang medyo magkakaproblema po; I think there lies the disconnect. I don’t know if
you are agree with me. Ano po, they are not—well, first, we have to equip them. Number
one, they are not armed. Number two, not all of the time 24/7 merong police sa kanila and
basically that’s police or ano—maybe, we can say that for this to be addressed is to… we
should strengthen the BADAC system or probably give more teeth to PDEA, down the line,
kung merong talagang mga PDEA agents or officials na nakatutok doon.

I was talking a while ago with the president of the Liga ng mga Barangay, so iyon din iyong
observation. We might be putting so much burden and pressure on our local barangay
officials. So, that’s my first ano po. Can we find—can we connect—well can—well, correct
me if I am wrong. So iyon po, so how do we address that vulnerability now, since we are
now here sitting together and listening to each other? Iyon po. Si General Aplasca, sir?

GEN. APLASCA: Thank you. I’m very happy with the comment. The security of the BADAC
are real issues on the ground but at the same time, I’m alarmed by the ano... I think there
needs to be an effort really to clarify the concept of the anti-drugs program of the
government. Dahil po iyong sa amin, sa PNP and also pinag-usapan namin ito ng other law
enforcement agency that the first step in our strategy is to identify iyong mga biktima at
saka iyong mga involved.

The second step is the Tokhang, hindi po naman ang purpose ng pag-identify sa kanila ay
operate-in sila, but to win them on our side by rehabilitating them and parang ibalik sila sa
ano… redirect them to the society. So meron po tayong Tokhang, the Tokhang po as iyong
paulit-ulit noong nandoon pa si General Bato as our Chief Bato, medyo nagkaroon ng
misconception sa Tokhang, dahil parang sinabi mong Tokhang parang mamamatay na iyong
ano… iyong aming mga targets. But in fact, Tokhang is a process of convincing itong mga
kababayan natin na involved in illegal drugs to once and for all stop this illegal activities
which would later on destroy their lives. So, iyon po iyong purpose.

In fact, mas gusto po namin na lahat ng na Tokhang namin na binigay ng BADAC ay mag-
surrender sa amin, so that the other government agencies involved in rehabilitation can
include them in the program. Pero iyon pong police operations po will start after the
Tokhang pagka in spite of our effort po na binibisita sila sa kanilang mga bahay, kinakausap
namin sila with the barangay captains, with their parents, kapag hindi pa rin sila—that’s the
only time that we conduct case build up operations. At saka iyong PDEA kasama po namin
doon sa build up operations.

But the first step is Tokhang, kaya po medyo naa-alarm po ako sa ano… na parang bakit
natatakot agad iyong mga BADAC na hindi naman iyon ang purpose talaga ng ating strategy.

We understand merong danger talaga, merong danger sir, di ba? But we have to start
somewhere, if there’s a danger sa mga barangay official natin, there’s also a danger to the
PNP, to the ano… but we swore to this responsibility as government officials and I think we
have to take the consequences of being a government official, including the barangay
officials.
But during the BADAC discussions, we have deviced means to somehow ano… parang
mabawasan iyong threat sa kanila by way of providing them the manner in which they
report to us. There are so many means of reporting na hindi naman ma-attribute sa kanila,
para hindi mae-endanger. And we have established a lot of protocols already. So, sana po
talagang ano… sa amin on a nationwide scale, hindi po talaga kaya namin na i-monitor ang
buong mga barangay, buong sitio ng ating bansa. So we need the cooperation and support
of the barangay officials. I think the regional directors of the DILG are here. I’m very happy
na they are very supportive in the process.

But meron din po talaga, totoo, may mga situation po na nako-compromise iyong ating mga
barangay officials. Hindi po namin sila pinapabayaan, on a case to case basis we establish
some security protocols, security procedures. Kung kinakailangan nga minsan may
binabantayan talaga kaming mga barangay officials kung talagang napag-initan na siya,
tinutulungan po namin, hindi po namin sila pinapabayaan. But we have to be one in this
quest to make the Philippines drug-free.

ASEC ECHEVERRI: Just to also answer. I agree with the general as mentioned. But
remember during the barangay elections, may isang kapitan nagsabi nakakatakot makipag-
away ngayon. Pero hindi naman hinihingi na tumakbo ka rin sa barangay election kung hindi
mo kayang pangatawanan. Iyon yung sinabi ng kapwa niya kapitan, nakakatakot
makipaglaban ngayong sa panahon ni Presidente Duterte kasi ginawa niya ngang national
security policy ang paglaban sa illegal na droga. Pero hindi rin naman hinihingi sa atin na
tumakbo tayo kung hindi natin kayang pangatawanan iyong hamon sa atin ni Presidente.
Kaya hindi rin hinihingi sa barangay, kung hindi mo kaya at natatakot, wag kang tumakbo.
Pero since tumakbo ka and you seek to be elected under these challenges, there is also risk
in that. You should be ready to face all these risks. But not to mention also, we also have to
protect the barangay as well. That is why right now under DBB Regulation 3, ito hirap rin
kami sa DILG ngayon sa pagme-measure ng barangay drug clearing operation, kasi ibinigay
sa barangay eh. Kahit kami hirap din kami i-measure… paano nga natin masasabi iyong
Barangay eh talagang gumagawa nga talaga ng drug clearing operation.

That is why we are now revisiting also that law or that regulation to check how could we
also institute security measures also and at the same time, ano iyong indicators na masasabi
na itong barangay na ito, talagang gumagawa ng drug clearing. Kasi isa iyon sa mataas na
points na binigay namin sa BADAC, not to mention the creation of the community based
drug rehab and reintegration also in lieu of the plea bargaining also.
So, iyon yung mga programa ngayon na nire-revolutionize ngayon na first time na ginagawa
sa barangay, sa panahon lang ni Presidente Duterte. It is challenging, nakasimangot na nga
iyong mga Regional Directors dito, because this is very challenging to them and it’s very
tasking. But if we make this institutionalized this will benefit the next generation after
President Duterte and this will be the best legacy of the President.

USEC EGCO: Thank you very much, sir. Asec. One more, fast lang.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Okay, fast na lang din ang sagot, sirs.

USEC. EGCO: I’m the Executive Director of Presidential Task Force on Media Security. And
the media is a very important or integral part of the campaign against illegal drugs of course,
kasama natin iyan. But wherever we go, isa lang po iyong concern, there are lot of concerns
with regard to media practitioners, iyong pumipirma as witness. And that practice
endangers them daw. Yes, we understand that under the law, that’s under the law, but the
consensus now among various media groups is that we should do away with it. In fact, for
one the National Press Club has written Senate President Tito Sotto already to review the
law requiring iyong media as witness. And ang isang danger kasi diyan is kung halimbawa
may isang libo tayong drug operations na kaso, it follows na at least half siguro doon ay may
mga media witness. And that’s another burden on their part.

So my question is: Does it work? Do we really need them now especially in the age of high
tech gadgets na meron tayong drone, body cams, etc. Thank you, sir.

DIR. GUIRAN: There is jurisprudence right now, 2018 case only. Noong una, kinakailangan
na ang witness doon sa ano ay media, DOJ, elected official. Ngayon because of that or
recent jurisprudence it’s alternate now, alternative now, either media or DOJ, hayaan mong
DOJ ang mamatay, wag ang barangay… aah wag ang media, joke.

DIR. CARREON: Ma’am, supplemental lang, mabilis lang.

ASEC. RAFAEL: I think that’s related to the case of Romy Miranda Lim who was acquitted by
the Supreme Court because of weak evidence.

DIR. CARREON: Ma’am, gaya po ng sinabi ni Honorable NBI Director natin. Sir, as amended
by I think it’s Republic Act 10640, Section 21 of RA 9165 on the custody and disposition of
drugs, iyong inventory. Ang inventory witnesses po ngayon, mandatory nga diyan, the
accused and his or her representative, elected official and/or media, DOJ. So kahit walang
media, basta may DOJ; or kahit walang DOJ basta may media. Ang problema ho rito, elected
official, hindi po nawawala, iyon ang point namin kanina.

Sabi ni Asec, kahit anong mangyari, kahit iyong pagtestigo lang po ng barangay official
bilang witness ay mandatory pa rin under the law. So, kahit na kanino hindi pa siya aktibo
mismo sa actual barangay drug clearing, that alone will even expose them to possible
reprisal. Our point being, talagang kadugtong na po ng ating trabaho bilang public servant
ang banta. Kapag ma-misconstrue tayo, nag-witness ka, masama agad ang dating mo, pero
actually trabaho lang naman iyon, dahil required po sa law.

USEC. EGCO: Okay thank you very much, sirs. Palakpakan po natin sila.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Okay. So, ang katuloy po noon is… ito po ay sabi dito, kapag di mo tinanong
ito ay maalis ka sa trabaho. Kaya babasahin ko: ‘The problem is in some barangays officials
don’t cooperate - iyong mga barangay officials daw - so law enforcement would get officials
from other barangays na walang jurisdiction. Kaya nadi-dismiss iyong mga kaso.’ Ano ang
ginagawa ng DILG?

ASEC. ECHEVERRI: You can actually, well inform us at once, that’s dereliction of duty. That
can be sanctioned. I mean, you could file a case against him with this dereliction of act.
Bawal po iyon. As I’ve said, that’s the law. Dūra lēx, sed lēx – that’s the law.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Are you going to file an administrative case against the barangay officials
who would refuse to cooperate?

ASEC. ECEHVERRI: Yes.

ASEC. RAFAEL: Since kanina sabi ko po ay isang tanong lang, pero lahat po sila dito ay halos
sumagot at medyo humaba. Sundan n’yo po sila sa labas mamaya. Pasensiya na po we have
to wrap up. Gusto ko pa sana magbigay ng dalawa, tatlo pa, pero we have to wrap up
because may mga events pa po tayo mamaya.

So sa event po natin mamaya, andun din po sila, sundan po natin sila, walang problema po.
Iyon po ay trabaho namin na sagutin iyong mga karagdagang mga tanong. Alam ko napaka-
interesting ng mga discussion natin dito because ito po ay nakikita natin sa mga barangay
natin, napapanuod po natin sa mga telebisyon, napapakinggan natin sa radio and everything
that we have discussed today are part of whatever that we are doing in government. Iyong
mga nakikita natin sa barangay, it’s part of our story as a Filipino people, it’s part of a story
of every family na lalung-lalo na po iyong pamilya na involved po iyong mga kamag-anak nila,
mga anak nila sa illegal drugs.

And of course for that, thank you gentlemen, thank you sirs. Thank you so much. Alam po
namin na marami po kayong ginagawa na programa sa illegal drugs and thank you for the
past more than two years of your sacrifices.

May we ask Asec. Mon Cualoping and Undersecretary Rocky Ignacio to please come forward
and award the plaque to our gentlemen. Maraming salamat po.

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