Two college students were recently arrested when around P1.5 million worth of illegal drugs, particularly ecstasy, were seized from them. The following days, more than P3 billion worth of illegal drugs were intercepted in Ayala Alabang village, Muntinlupa City and in Manila North Harbor.
The alarming results of police and intelligence operations against illegal drugs can never be ignored. It can be just a tip of the iceberg on the real situation of drug trafficking in the country. Noting the fact that crime syndicates are getting more creative in trying to smuggle their contrabands.
The drug problem is not just for the national government and the Philippine National Police to resolve. All stakeholders and all government agencies must cooperate and act as one.
Random Inspections of Bags and Lockers in Schools
PNP-National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Director Guillermo Eleazar earlier proposed the random inspections of bags and lockers in schools. He pushed the said move to prevent students from being preyed by drug syndicates.
Eleazar pointed out the incident which led him to suggest the random inspections, “The background is because there was a case, elementary students that were caught in possession of 20 or 30 sachets of marijuana na binebenta sa school at ginagamit pa nila so well that was the result of the inspection that [was] conducted by the teacher.”
However, the Department of Education and other sectors raised opposition on the suggestion of Eleazar arguing that it could violate the privacy of the students.
But General Eleazar stressed that it is not to subject the students in Oplan Tokhang-like operation because the inspections will be done by the teachers not the policemen.
“Even on the actual implementation, itong mga sinasabi nating surprise inspection, hindi kasama ang pulis doon. It could just be the teachers with the PTA officers. Kung merong mga incidents na may nahulihan ng illegal drugs, the police can always assist them to trace the supplier of those illegal drugs,” Eleazar reiterated.
After the reported arrest of students’ involvement in illegal drug trade, it is even more necessary and urgent to implement the random inspections not just in grade schools and high schools but also in colleges and universities.
Random drug testing will be another preventive measure to make sure that students are protected from the influence of illegal drugs.
School administrations can create a protocol, in consultation with parents and police, on how to proceed with the random checks. This is to ensure that no rights will be violated or abused.
There is no politicizing in seriousness in campaigning against crime and illegal drugs. The problem in illegal drug trade can be compared to the problem in garbage disposal – it is strenuous to resolve but it can be resolve, with powerful will.