World | Philippines

Arroyo sends officials on leave to restore drug drive

Action follows spat between government agencies on prosecution.

  • By Gilbert Felongco, Correspondent
  • Published: 23:41 January 11, 2009
  • Gulf News

Manila: Philippine President Gloria Arroyo yesterday ordered Justice Department officials implicated in a high-profile bribery case to go on leave in an apparent bid to restore the credibility of the government's drive against illegal drugs.

Copies of a statement issued by Arroyo in Cebu and made available to the press by the presidential palace said all officials and prosecutors of the Department of Justice (DoJ) alleged to have received bribes in the controversial "Alabang Boys" drug case" have been required to go on leave of absence.

"Today, I instructed Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez to require leave of absence of all officials and prosecutors of the Department of Justice alleged to have received bribes in exchange for the release of suspected drug dealers from certain rich and influential families.

The action comes in the wake of reports that a number of drug cases have been dropped by prosecutors citing strange "technicalities".

"The full force of the government's powers to act against those that betray public trust should be applied swiftly and unequivocally, more so in this case which involves illegal drugs - society's cancer - on the one hand, and supposed pillars of the justice system on the other," the statement quoted Arroyo as saying.

Earlier on Saturday, the presidential office had been forced to intervene in a feud involving the two leading government agencies involved in apprehending and prosecuting drug offenders - the prosecutors of the Department of Justice's (DoJ) anti-drug branch on one hand and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on the other.

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