By CHITO CHAVEZ
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said unconventional methods should be in place to outsmart politicians who are using illegal drugs.
PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino favors the proposed surprise drug tests for election candidates but admitted that extraordinary methods are needed to fully impose them.
In the past, political aspirants taking illegal drugs managed prepare themselves to cheat drug tests.
Aquino said identifying drug users who are running for electoral positions through surprise drug tests will further boost the government’s all-out war against illegal drugs.
One way to outsmart such politicians is to call them to a supposed meeting room where all the exits can be padlocked.
When the political aspirants arrive, they would be required to submit their urine samples for drug testing before leaving the room.
Aquino confirmed that such ploy is being done at the PDEA to weed out the agency’s undesirables.
He said PDEA personnel are compelled to submit urine samples inside a padlocked room for drug examination.
Also the agency said that more arrested drug suspects may be convicted if only the court admit as evidence swabbing drug samples and sniffing canine (K-9) drug findings obtained during drug buy-bust and other related operations.
Aquino said the agency is strongly pushing for the approval of Senate Resolution No. 888, introduced by Senator Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao, that will allow the courts to accept those evidence.
