MARCH 20, 2014

NR # 3411B

House okays amendment of Dangerous Drugs Act

The House of Representatives has approved on 3rd Reading a bill preventing the dismissal of drug cases due to the failure of law enforcers to follow its stringent requirements. Rep. Vicente Belmonte (Lone istrict! "ligan #it$%! the chairman of the House #ommittee on angerous rugs and author of House Bill &&'(! wants to provide clear procedures for the custod$ and disposition of dangerous drugs thereb$ preserving the evidentiar$ value of confiscated items. The bill see)s to amend *ection &+ of Republic ,ct -+.( otherwise )nown as the /#omprehensive angerous rugs ,ct of &00&. /The reasons for acquittal and dismissal include the irregularit$ and illegalit$ of arrest! search and sei1ure! reasonable doubt! insufficienc$ of evidence! inconsistencies in testimon$! filing of wrong information! non2coordination with 3 4, and failure to present vital witnesses!5 Belmonte said. 6nder the measure! the anti7drug campaign of the government shall be strengthened b$ amending the procedure for the custod$ and disposition of dangerous drugs and penali1ing the possession of controlled precursors and essential chemicals! instruments or paraphernalia and laborator$ equipment used in the manufacture of dangerous drugs. The measure mandates that the inventor$ of sei1ed items shall be witnessed b$ an elected public official who has 8urisdiction over the scene of the crime with an$ representative from the media or the 9ational 3rosecution *ervice. The measure also mandates the conduct of the ph$sical inventor$ of sei1ed items be at the place where the search warrant is served or at the nearest police station or at the nearest office of the apprehending officer:team! whichever is practicable. /,mending R, -+.( will enable the government to pursue an intensive and unrelenting campaign against the traffic)ing and use of dangerous drugs and other similar substances!5 Belmonte added. Belmonte said *ection &+ pertains to the custod$ and disposition of confiscated! sei1ed! and surrendered dangerous drugs! plant sources of illegal drugs! controlled precursors and essential chemicals! instruments or paraphernalia and laborator$ equipment.

Belmonte said from &003 to ;une &0+0! the total sei1ures of dangerous drugs! controlled chemicals and laborator$ equipment amounted to 3<...& billion! while sei1ed dangerous drugs can be quantified in terms of monetar$ value amounting to billions of pesos! the potential damage however to the socio7economic! political and cultural foundations of the countr$ can never be measured. /However! from +--- to ecember &0+0! the conviction rate is onl$ <.30= or '!0.3 out of ++0!>-> drug cases filed!5 Belmonte said. The proposed amendment shall render the sei1ures and custod$ over said items valid! as long as the integrit$ and evidentiar$ value of the sei1ed items are properl$ preserved. ?urthermore! the proposed amendment removes the restriction for the issuance of certifications of forensic laborator$ e@amination within &> hours but instead requires an immediate issuance of certification upon completion of the e@amination. (30% jc