War never ends in arrests, Cities: Monitor drug cases filed in courts

CEBU, Philippines - While local officials in Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu Cities lauded the police for their ongoing campaign against illegal drugs, they want proper monitoring of the cases filed in court against suspected drug users and pushers.

It was learned that police filed charges against suspected pushers and users, but some of these cases were dismissed and those involved reportedly return back to their illegal activities.

In Mandaue City, the police have arrested 85 drug pushers and 87 drug users while 159 cases have been filed in court for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes lauded the police in the campaign against illegal drugs, but said they should make sure those involved will be convicted in court.

Cortes admitted that another area of concern that they need to deal with is the drug problem that always finds its way into depressed areas.

Cortes said this problem has slowly crept into their neighborhoods and always precipitates to other worse crimes.

The city mayor, however, said the Mandaue City Police Office has cracked down on the drug menace which has plagued the city in this past year.

The same observation was made by Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza in a previous interview who also aired her concerns over the problem of illegal drugs in her city.

Mayor Radaza also said the police should closely monitor cases filed in court to make sure that those suspects will be convicted.

Lapu-Lapu police officials admitted that sometimes they felt surprised after being informed that cases involving drugs were dismissed in Lapu-Lapu courts. — (FREEMAN)