Campus security program expanded

In line with President Arroyo’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) announcement on the launching of an anti-drug campaign in all schools in the country, Metro police chief Deputy Director General Reynaldo Velasco directed the five Metro police directors and chiefs of police yesterday to expand the School Campus Security Committees (SCSC) to cover all campuses in Metro Manila.

The SCSC, a project under the National Capital Region Police Office, is currently being implemented in the city of Manila.

"We have already formed the School Campus Security Committee in Manila as part of our drive against illegal drugs inside the schools and campuses," Velasco said.

The SCSC, under the leadership of Western Police District (WPD) director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong, covers at least 207 Manila schools. The committees are headed by precinct commanders in areas where the schools are located, particularly at the University Belt. They are backed up by their respective personnel and other "force multipliers."

Velasco said that aside from Manila cops, each committee is composed of representatives from schools, heads of school security, Parent Teacher Associations, barangay officials and students.

The primary tasks of the SCSCs include organization of the faculty and staff, students, parents, school security force, and the barangay officials; heightening awareness on the dangers of illegal drugs, criminality, street crimes, campus violence, and other similar incidents in schools; establishing a network with other agencies, LGUs, NGOs, and other organizations; arranging periodic seminars in schools; and sponsoring wholesome and physically stimulating activities for students.

The Metro police chief added that he would be meeting with Department of Education (DepEd) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) officials to finalize the implementation of the Metro-wide anti-drug campaign in all schools and universities.

"We will be tapping our students, parents, teachers as Magic Eye volunteers in the government’s renewed effort to win the war against illegal drugs," Velasco said.

The President said the heightened anti-drug campaign in the schools is necessary to save the youth from drugs and rehabilitate the drug users.

"It’s the future of our youth that is at stake here, that’s why we should win the war against illegal drugs," Velasco said.

He said PDEA and the NCRPO are winning its war against illegal drug trade. From July 2002 to July 2003, he said, a total of 11,275 raids and buy-bust operations led to the arrest of 11,511 suspects, the filing of 7,710 cases in court and the confiscation of different illicit drugs and raw materials worth about P4.9 billion and the dismantling of seven shabu laboratories in Valenzuela, Parañaque, Las Piñas and Quezon City.