SEN. REVILLA'S STATEMENT ON THE PDEA-DOJ ROW

To expedite the investigation and filing of cases related to illegal drugs, particularly those against individuals accosted and arrested by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), I will be filing a bill that would vest the PDEA with Prosecutorial Powers.

Under this scheme, a Special Prosecutorial Office shall be established within the PDEA that will be empowered to directly prosecute offenders involved in "no-bail" cases.

Under the current scheme, as provided for in Republic Act 9165, or the Dangerous Drugs Act, the PDEA can merely cause the filing of appropriate criminal and civil cases for violation of all laws on illegal drugs. The prosecution of these cases remains with the Department of Justice (DOJ).

I believe the DOJ is doing its best to resolve all the cases submitted to it with only the best of intentions and in the soonest possible time, but, the DOJ's hands are very full. It is in this light that we would like to unburden the DOJ.

The growing problem of illegal drugs is peculiar and I believe that it should be given special attention and greater scrutiny, thus the creation of a focused team tasked solely for the purpose is necessary.

There is no reason for the DOJ and the PDEA to be at each other's throats. I believe that drug money and big-time drug lords are fuelling this controversy to their benefit. As concerned agencies engage in verbal fighting and buck passing, only the drug syndicates are meriting. Magtulungan na lang tayo.