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Philippines pledges to strengthen efforts to ensure conviction of drug suspects

Xinhua, February 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Philippine government vowed Saturday to intensify efforts to ensure that those charged for illegal drugs get convicted as the number of drug cases filed in courts significantly increased last year.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Arturo Cacdac Jr. cited in the agency's consolidated report that a total of 17,074 drug cases were filed in different courts nationwide in 2014 compared to 10,502 in 2013, an increase of 62. 57 percent.

He said internal support mechanisms have been institutionalized to strengthen PDEA's aggressive campaign against illegal drugs.

Capability enhancement trainings, such as anti-drug investigation courses, are regularly provided to enable agents to prepare air-tight cases in coordination with PDEA lawyers, he said.

"Moot courts are used to prepare PDEA agents and chemists who will stand as prosecution witnesses. Also, case monitors have been permanently assigned to all PDEA regional offices to regularly monitor status of drug cases," Cacdac said. Endi