EXECUTIVE ORDER 218

STRENGTHENING THE SUPPORT MECHANISM FOR THE PHILIPPINE

DRUG ENFORCEMENT AGENCY

WHEREAS, by virtue of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of SECTION 1. Creation of Task Forces
2002 ( Republic Act (R.A.) No. 9165), the Philippine Drug Enforce-
ment Agency (PDEA) was created for the efficient and effective law The Office of the President, the PNP and other agencies which

enforcement of all the provisions on dangerous drugs and/or precur- were performing drug law enforcement and prevention func-

sors and essential chemicals as provided in R.A. No.9165; tions prior to the enactment of R.A. No. 9165 shall organize
anti-drug task force to support the PDEA.
WHEREAS, pursuant to R.A. No. 9165, the Dangerous Drugs Board
(DDB) is the policy-making and strategy-formulating body in the SECTION 2. Supervision and Support

planning and formulation of policies and programs on drug preven-

The PDEA shall exercise operational supervision and provide
tion and control.
technical support to the main task force created by the PNP.

WHEREAS, R.A. No. 9165 provides for the abolition of the drug en- In the case of other task forces, created within the PNP or

forcement units of the Philippines National Police (PNP), the Nation- other agencies, the President of the Philippines shall deter-

al Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Customs; mine whether DDB or the PDEA shall exercise operational
supervision.
WHEREAS, the same Act also provides that the personnel of the
abolished units shall continue to perform their task as detail service SECTION 3. Funding

with the PDEA until such time that the PDEA is fully operational and
Funds for the operation of the task forces shall be sourced
is able to recruit a sufficient number of new personnel to do the task
from the mother agencies creating the task force and from
themselves;
the gross receipts of lotto operations. For this purpose, the

WHEREAS, the PDEA, as the lead agency tasked to enforce R.A. Philippine Charity Sweep takes Office is hereby ordered to

No.9165, is still in its transition period and still has to develop its create a standby fund in the amount of One Billion Pesos

institutional capabilities to be able to accomplishment its mandated (P1,000,000,000.00) to fund the operations of the PDEA and

task; the task forces supporting it.

WHEREAS, other agencies of the Government have trained drug en- SECTION 4. Repeal

forcement personnel who can help PDEA fulfill its tasks;

Executive Order No.206 dated May 15,2003 is hereby re-

WHEREAS, there is an urgent need to pursue a forcefull, intensive pealed. All orders, rules, regulations and issuances, or parts

and unrelenting campaign against drug trafficking and the use of thereof, which are inconsistent with this Executive Order are

illegal drugs whether syndicated or street-level. hereby repealed or modified accordingly.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, President of the SECTION 5. Effectivity

Republic of the Philippines, by virtue of the powers vested in me by

This Executive Order shall take effect immediately upon ap-
law, do hereby order and/or authorize:
proval.

PDEA opens 1,395 agent slots
TO make a greater mark on the drug
enforcement activities in the country,
the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agen-
cy (PDEA) 7 is recruiting additional
agents to help in the anti-drug war.
PDEA-7 Director III Emerson Margate
said that their agency needs more per-
sonnel to conduct raids and operations
in Central Visayas. “The agency opened
new slots that can accommodate 1,395
drug enforcement officers. That is our
quota for this year,” Margate said. As
of now, the PDEA-7 has 55 agents
guarding more than 3, 000 barangays
in the region. “The first batch is set to
start their training by the end of Febru-
ary while on September this year will
be the second batch. By February of
next year, we will have new agent who
will be deployed in all the provinces of
the Philippines,” he said. Margate said
the agency envisions to recruit 5,000
agents in the next five years. “We have
1, 300 agents nationwide. In Cebu, I
have 55 for the whole Region 7 and
that’s really challenging like in Siquijor,
we only strike because we don’t have a
permanent agent there. In Bohol, only
a few including Negros Oriental,” he
said. Margate said that the additional
agents will benefit the agency especial-
Methods of Concealment of
Arrested Couriers Abroad
 Hidden in luggage/suitcases
(38%)
 Ingestion/Swallowing (29%)
 Placed in shoes (7%)
 Placed in bottom part of lug-
gage (5%)

Placed inside handbag (4%)
 Others (17%): Undergoing mi-
ly because of the government’s crack- nor operation, placing in shoe-
down on illegal drugs. “It’s really a boxes/books/bottles/parcels,
problem when it comes to manpower.
FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO
We are now multi-tasking, but it would
THE DRUG COURIER PROBLEM
be better if there were more of us so
that the agency can reach to the prov- Filipinos are usually enticed by the
offer because of the syndicates’ prom-
inces to orchestrate the fight against ise of love/marriage, as have been
illegal drugs there,” he said. Interested recorded in several arrests involving
Filipina drug couriers. Others are lured
applicants can visit the official website
by the opportunity to travel and the
of the PDEA at pdea.com.ph. (JOB) promise of a comfortable life while
Published in the SunStar Cebu newspa- others want a high-paying job and easy
money.
per on February 18, 2018. Latest issues
The drug courier problem can also be
of SunStar Cebu also available on your
attributed to the following factors:
mobile phones, laptops, and tablets.
1. The prevalence of poverty
Subscribe to our digital editions at epa-
2. Poor educational background
per.sunstar.com.ph and get a free sev-
3. Easy money
en-day trial.
Drug war: PNP out, PDEA in
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 07:00 AM October 12, 2017
President Rodrigo Duterte has taken his war on drugs away from the Philippine Na-
tional Police and designated instead the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency
(PDEA) as the “sole agency” that will carry out operations against the narcotics
trade.
Mr. Duterte’s move is seen as intended to eliminate deadly police raids that have
marred his campaign against illegal drugs, which a survivor and two people whose
relatives have been killed by police have asked the Supreme Court to stop for being
“patently illegal and grossly unconstitutional.”
Say No to Drugs
Crizel O. Martirez

Drug addiction need to be taken as a critical situation. People going

through this sort of situation should no longer be taken without any con-
sideration or be condemn. They ought to be guided and be surrounded of
the human beings they love and love them. Like other ailments, drug addiction have to be given recognition
especially folks that are truly trying their exceptional to overcome such dependency, and for folks who are
nevertheless in the stage of addiction or being confuse on what to do. continually take into account that you
aren't alone, their are positive people and corporations that you can lean on to, they might help you. do not
free wish, there is usually hope for people who try tough and decide to alternate and make a difference.

Drug addiction is a problem that has been increasing immensely among our society today. Drug addictions
can only hinder or restrain us from accomplishing goals or dreams in life. People sometimes feel they are too
bright, too powerful, too much in control to become addictive. Addiction can trap anyone. It can lead to
harming ones body, causing problems in family structure, and contribute to the delinquency in society. The
sooner people seek help for drug addiction problems, the more chances they have of gaining control of their
life once again. However, abstinence is the safest way to live a longer and healthier life.

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