Alarmed by the huge number of dismissal on drug cases, Senator Vicente C. Sotto urged President Rodrigo Duterte to create a “Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes” that will focus and address the problem of prosecution in the government’s war against illegal drugs and other crimes.
Sotto filed Resolution No. 202 to create an office under the direct supervision of the President, making the war on drugs lethal against drug syndicates in the country.
Based on records, there are more than 70% dismissal on drug cases in the Philippines. This huge percentage prompted Sotto to file the resolution in a bid to solve this perennial problem.
“Despite the strong cases filed, cases are eventually dismissed due to lack of coordination between the law enforcers and prosecutors especially in the case build-up stage,” Sotto explained.
Sotto said the purpose of this office, which will be created through an Executive Order, is to ensure that cases will be effectively prosecuted.
“The said office shall also formulate programs and protocols to strengthen the prosecution of drug cases and assist law enforcers,” he added.
The State and Public Prosecutors will be designated to the PNP, PDEA and NBI to advise, supervise and monitor anti-drug and crimes operations especially high profile drugs cases. The Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes shall supervise and make into one body the DILG, PNP, PDEA, NBI, BOC and DOJ.
The Solicitor General shall be designated as the head of this office. There shall also be Deputy Commanders for Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The said Deputy Commanders shall be taken from the present Undersecretaries and/or Assistant Secretaries from the Department of Justice, Department of Interior and Local Government, Dangerous Drugs Board, Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and other necessary agencies. Personnel and staff of the Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes will be coming from PDEA, PNP, DDB and NBI.