MANILA – Sen. Vicente Sotto III proposed the creation of an office that will manage prosecutions related to the government’s antidrug campaign.
The “Presidential Office on Drugs and Crimes” shall be under the Office of the President (OP), Sotto said in Senate Resolution 702.
In making the proposal, an “alarmed” Sotto cited reports that “more than 70 percent” of drug cases have been dismissed.
While “strong,” the cases were “eventually dismissed due to lack of coordination between law enforcers and prosecutors, especially in the case buildup stage,” Sotto claimed.
According to the resolution, the proposed new office shall formulate programs and protocols to strengthen the prosecution of drug cases and assist law enforcers.
State and public prosecutors will be designated to the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the National Bureau of Investigation to advise, supervise and monitor antidrug and anticrime operations, especially high-profile drug cases, Sotto said./PN
