Manual on synchronized ops boosts fight vs illegal drugs – PDEA

Efforts to fight the illegal drug problem inside jails in the country get a big boost following the creation of a joint manual of operations in the conduct of search and seizure of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, and drug paraphernalia in all Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Prison and Penal Farms.

Undersecretary Arturo G. Cacdac, secretary general of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), said the creation of the manual ensures that the two agencies have synchronized efforts in anti-drug operations in all BuCor prisons and penal farms.

“The manual encompasses the basic rules and procedure in the standard conduct of Greyhound operations in all national prisons and BuCor penal farms and in the eradication of illegal drugs and activities inside these facilities,” Cacdac said.

A ceremonial signing of the manual of operations was held last week at the PDEA National Headquarters in Quezon City. Cacdac and BuCor Director General retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Rainier G. Cruz were the main signatories.

The PDEA Plans and Operations Service (POS) under Director Emerson L. Margate and Technical Working Group (TWG), with Legal Prosecution Service (LPS), Intelligence and Investigation Service (IIS), PDEA Regional Office-National Capital Region (Operations Division), PDEA Special Enforcement Service-K9 Unit as members, BuCor officers and representatives assisted in the preparation of the manual.

Cacdac said having the manual will send a strong message to all including those inside penal colonies that “We are serious in doing our jobs and that there is no place for their illicit activities to flourish anywhere in the country.”

For his part, Cruz said that based on statistics, 17 percent of the crimes committed by those already inside the penitentiary are drug related. However, when they entered the penitentiary, the number increased to more than 50 percent.

“Sometimes ‘yung offenders ng robbery and kidnapping, pagdating sa loob, they turned drug dealers. Our drug rehabilitation is greatly affected by drug use and abuse,” he said.

“Our collaboration with PDEA sends a clear signal that we are serious in solving the drug menace once and for all,” he added.

PDEA said efforts in coming up with the PDEA-BuCor Manual of Operations in the Conduct of Search and Seizure of Dangerous Drugs, Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals, and Drug Paraphernalia in all Bucor Prison and Penal Farms emanated from the problem of drug proliferation which did not spare prisons.

Over the years, there were numerous search and seizure operations conducted by BuCor in its seven operating prison and penal farms. The operations resulted in the seizure of contrabands and dangerous drugs.

The BuCor has ascertained that the possible entry of contrabands, including illegal drugs in the facility are made possible through visitors, and most likely with the involvement of some inmates or BuCor personnel.

On March 25 of this year, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed by the BuCor represented by Franklin Bucayu, the Director General of BuCor, and the PDEA under Cacdac, to address the continuing issues and concerns, particularly the proliferation of illegal drugs, inside the prisons and penal farms.

The MOA provided that the PDEA shall initiate while the BuCor will assist in the creation of standard operating procedures/ manual for the joint conduct of Greyhound Operations in all prisons and penal farms of BuCor.