Anti drug drive finally scores 11 convictions

CORTES, Bohol, December 24, 2016 (PIA)—For the first time after President Rodrigo Duterte declared war against drugs and ordered law enforcers to get drug criminals off the streets, Bohol anti-drug agents reported 11 convictions in a month. 

The figure, according to Prosecutor Macario Delusa is already a good showing of a batting average. 

For months now, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has reported a monthly conviction rate average of a little more than 3. 

That is why, when Governor Edgar Chatto noticed the monthly conviction rate going up, he was among the first to react. 

Inspired by the rise in convictions, both officials in fact also learned that despite all the convictions during the month, the NBI also revealed that at least 3 to five lawyers have been tagged in the drug war. 

Even then, as Gov Chatto stressed that the drug war must cover enough grounds, the PDEA also showed that the month of November also saw some 143 newly filed cases, with only six under preliminary investigation. 

These are al the city and provincial prosecutor’s offices, PDEA said in their report. 

Before the Regional Trial (RTC) and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts (MCTCs), the PDEA also noted 193 new cases filed. 

Of these, 80 cases are for section 5 of the Dangerous Drugs Act, 99 are in violation of section 11, 5 against section 12 and 9 against section 15. 

For the same period, the PDEA said the courts have dismissed about 28 cases, several of them for insufficiency of evidence, inadmissible evidence against the suspect or suspects, as well as death of accused respondent. 

The month too saw 99 people arrested for getting implicated in drugs, while three are at large, reads Reina Quilas of the DILG who presented the PDEA report. 

Over this, Governor Chatto exacted from the police, NBI agents and the army their evaluation as to the way Bohol has been performing against drugs. 

Both police, through Police Superintendent Lorenzo Batuan, Bohol PCR Chief Col George Vale, NBI Atty Arcelito Albao and Army Colonel Arnulfo Matanguihan pegged the local anti-drug accomplishment at 80% average. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)