Private ports hamper anti-drug drive – PDEA

PDEA-6 Regional Director Emerson Margate

BACOLOD City – Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Director Emerson Margate said private ports are among the stumbling blocks in the campaign against illegal drugs because it is hard to monitor these areas.

Margate was here for the groundbreaking of the P35-million rehabilitation center in the city, a joint between project of the Dangerous Drugs Board under Secretary Catalino Cuy and Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Margate said private ports cannot be easily monitored by the PDEA and other government authorities compared to public ports.

“There many private ports at yun and hindi natin naa-account, walang records nun, sa private ports, it is accounted, who is manning it, syempre private yan,” he said.

He added that he has proposed before that local government units should create a monitoring body that will also inspect private ports.

But he also admitted that there is no law authorizing LGU-created body to scrutinize private ports in their areas.

Margate said his proposal could be enforced through local ordinances.

He added that there many private ports in the country particularly in Negros island.

Margate cited for instance that illegal drugs brought into the country via the “backdoor” are shipped through Zamboanga then to Dumaguete.

He added that from Dumaguete illegal drugs are transported to other areas by land.

Another problem is the use of pump boats to transport illegal drugs to private ports.

Margate said this is the reason why they a need to be able to monitor and check private ports.

Meanwhile, Margate said K-9 units are very important in the campaign against illegal drugs considering that some ports lack x-ray machine.

He said K-9 dogs are mobile, thus easy to transport from one area to another.

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian