Thursday, January 17, 2013

ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS CALL (Pushing for a drug-free Philippines)

By Siesta-friendly

We do not have records showing drug-related crime rates. But based on regular news reports of crimes, drug-related crimes seem to be on a critical rise. The most heinous of crimes – especially against children and women - seem to be often committed by those on drugs.

The shooting spree on January 3, 2013 in Kawit, Cavite, by a 2-time Barangay Councilor turned  losing candidate for Barangay Chairman turned drug addict and his aide, which resulted in the deaths of 8 people – including 2 children – and the wounding of 12 more - including 2 other children - may be the highest casualty rate by any drug-crazed killer.

The family and neighbors of the Kawit gunman, Ronald Bae, knew of his drug use.[1] Bae was even on the watchlist of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) since 2010, following the PDEA’s raid of his home where they found and confiscated illegal drugs and an “AK-47 assault rifle, a 5.56-mm-cal. M16 Elisco rifle and a .45-cal. Sig Sauer pistol”.[2]   (Unfortunately, he was able to post bail).[3] His accomplice has admitted that they were on methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu during the crime.[4]

So, how, even with the pertinent people knowing about his illegal drug use and his apparent love of guns, and his family and neighbor’s experience of his violent behavior,[5] was Bae’s access again to a gun (a .45-caliber 1911 pistol) and his continued use of illegal drugs not been immediately reported to the authorities?

Included in the Declaration of Policy of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A. 9165)[6], is the statement that “the government shall pursue an intensive and unrelenting campaign against the trafficking and use of dangerous drugs and other similar substances through an integrated system of planning, implementation and enforcement of anti-drug abuse policies, programs, and projects.” (Section 2)  

This campaign will not be so intensive and unrelenting without people directing (aka tipping) government authorities where the drugs and who the users/sellers/manufacturers/distributers/importers are.

Perhaps we need to be reminded of the unlawful acts punished under R.A. 9165 and their corresponding penalties so we know what to look out for within our families, social groups, work place and communities, and learn just how serious these acts are, that we may be prompted to report these acts immediately to authorities –

  1. Importation of Dangerous Drugs shall be punished with life imprisonment and a fine from P500,000.00 to P10,000,000.00 while the Importation of Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals is punished with imprisonment from 12 years and 1 day to 20 years and a fine from P100,000.00 to P500,000.00 (Sec. 4);
  2. Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution and Transportation of Dangerous Drugs shall be punished with life imprisonment and a fine from P500,000.00 to P10,000,000.00 while the Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution and Transportation of Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals is punished with imprisonment from 12 years and 1 day to 20 years and a fine from P100,000.00 to P500,000.00 (Sec. 5);
  3. Maintenance of a Den, Dive or Resort where any dangerous drug is used or sold shall be punished with life imprisonment and a fine from P500,000.00 to P10,000,000.00 while the Maintenance of a Den, Dive or Resort where any Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals is punished with imprisonment from 12 years and 1 day to 20 years and a fine from P100,000.00 to P500,000.00 (Sec. 6);
  4. Being Employees and knowing Visitors of a Den, Dive or Resort is punished with imprisonment from 12 years and 1 day to 20 years and a fine from P100,000.00 to P500,000.00 (under Sec. 7)
  5. Manufacture of Dangerous Drugs shall be punished with life imprisonment and a fine from P500,000.00 to P10,000,000.00 while the Manufacture of Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals is punished with imprisonment from 12 years and 1 day to 20 years and a fine from P100,000.00 to P500,000.00 (Sec. 8);
  6. Illegal Chemical Diversion of Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals is punished with imprisonment from 12 years and 1 day to 20 years and a fine from P100,000.00 to P500,000.00  (Sec. 9);
  7. Manufacture or Delivery of Equipment, Instrument, Apparatus, and Other Paraphernalia for Dangerous Drugs and/or Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals is punished with imprisonment from 12 years and 1 day to 20 years and a fine from P100,000.00 to P500,000.00 (Sec. 10);
  8. Possession of Dangerous Drugs shall be punished with life imprisonment and a fine from P500,000.00 to P10,000,000.00 (Sec. 11);
  9. Possession of Equipment, Instrument, Apparatus and Other Paraphernalia for Dangerous Drugs is punished with imprisonment from 6 months and 1 day to 4 years and a fine from P10,000.00 to P50,000.00 (Sec. 12);
  10. Use of Dangerous Drugs – if a person is apprehended or arrested and found positive for use of any Dangerous Drug the penalty shall be a minimum of 6 months rehabilitation in a government center for the first offense; if apprehended using any Dangerous Drug for the second time, the penalty shall be imprisonment 6 years and 1 day to 12 years and a fine from P50,000.00 to P200,000.00: (Sec. 15);
  11. Cultivation or Culture of Plants Classified as Dangerous Drugs or Are Sources Thereof shall be punished with life imprisonment and a fine from P500,000.00 to P10,000,000.00 (Sec. 16);
  12. Failure to comply with the rules on maintenance and keeping of the original records of transactions on any Dangerous Drug and/or Controlled Precursor And Essential Chemical shall be punished with imprisonment from 1 year and 1 day to 6 years and a fine from P10,000.00 to P50,000.00 (Sec. 17);
  13. Unnecessary Prescription of Dangerous Drugs shall be punished with imprisonment from 12 years and 1 day to 20 years and a fine from P100,000.00 to P500,000.00 plus revocation of his/her license to practice (Sec. 18);
  14. Unlawful Prescription of Dangerous Drugs shall be punished with life imprisonment and a fine from P500,000.00 to P10,000,000.00 (Sec. 19). 

The PDEA’s goal is a drug-free Philippines. That may be a dream but it is worth aiming for. There are several ways to inform the authorities regarding illegal drug activity in your area: you can inform your barangay officials or file a report with the nearest police station.  You may also directly inform the PDEA at their Private Eye contact details: 920-0967 / iii.pdea@yahoo.com for which you may even be given a reward.[7] You may also call PDEA’s 24/7 hotline: 920-0735, or go to their office at PDEA Bldg., NIA Northside Road, National Government Center, Barangay Pinyahan, Quezon City.[8] 

HOWEVER, because the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) and Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) have since dug up a dead body from a portion of gunman Ronald Bae’s lot in Barangay Tabon 1, Kawit, Cavite, following the confession of Bae’s accomplice, John Paul Lopez, that Bae buried Teodulo Villanueva in 2003, and because Villanueva is said to have reported to the police Bae’s illegal drug transactions, we should always be careful whom we inform of illegal acts, especially when it comes to drugs.[9]  There were also early rumors that Bae’s neighbors reported to the local police his indiscriminate firing during new year celebrations – 2 days before the massacre – yet the authorities apparently did not act on these reports.  All you have to do is call, but first make sure you are calling the right authority.  


[1]  Malig, J. (2013, January 05). Cavite gunman used drugs, estranged wife says. Retrieved from http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/01/04/13/cavite-gunman-used-drugs-estranged-wife-says
[2]  Ramos, M. (2013, January 06). Kawit gunman had stash of high-powered firearms—pnp. Retrieved from http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/336129/kawit-gunman-had-stash-of-high-powered-firearms-pnp
[3]  Padua, R. (2013, January 06). Gunman on pdea watch list since 2010. Retrieved from http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2013/01/06/893739/gunman-pdea-watch-list-2010nce 2010 n-pdea-watch-list-2010    
[4]  Limpin, R. (2013, January 08). Kawit gunman overdosed on drugs . Retrieved from http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/top-stories/38954-kawit-gunman-overdosed-on-drugs  
[5]  Legaspi, A. (2013 January 08).  Wife of Cavite mass killer Ronald Bae says he abused her. Retrieved from http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/289301/news/regions/wife-of-cavite-mass-killer-ronald-bae-says-he-abused-her
[6]  An Act Instituting The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act Of 2002, Repealing Republic Act No. 6425, Otherwise Known As The Dangerous Drugs Act Of 1972, As Amended, Providing Funds Therefor, And For Other Purposes; June 7, 2002.

[9]  Limpin, R. (2013, January 16). Human remains dug up in bae’s property . Retrieved from http://www.manilatimes.net/index.php/news/top-stories/39468-human-remains-dug-up-in-bae-s-property

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