PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE NARCOTICS GROUP HISTORY

1972 - Birth of the Constabulary Anti Narcotics Unit (CANU)

.         To enforce laws on drugs and to harmonize, supervise and coordinate  the  anti-narcotics  activities of the then Philippine Constabulary (PC) in response to the alarming problem posed by heroin  addiction  and abuse of marijuana and other drugs, the Constabulary  Anti Narcotics  Unit  was  activated  on 16 February 1972 under its first Commanding Officer, then  Col. Bienvenido  L  Felix  (GSC).  With  only  76  officers  and  men, CANU capably conducted narcotics detection and investigation including   education   and  information  campaigns.  Upon  the passage  of   Republic  Act  6425,  otherwise  known  as  the Dangerous Drug Act 1972,  CANU  capabilities  included  limited treatment and rehabilitation  of  Drug Dependents. The "FELIX CONCEPT" of rehabilitation and treatment, family centered and god oriented approach  evolved  on  the concept that " Drug users are not criminals but sick persons, victims  themselves  who  should  be  given  the  chance  to  rejoin  the  mainstream  of  normal community life"           One of CANU's major law enforcement strikes was the seizure of several kilos of marijuana seeds in Chinatown, Manila. This was followed by the arrest of two (2) American Ex-GI's and the confiscation of several quantity of heroin, hashish and madrax tablets which led to the unmasking and arrest of a Chinese national LIM SENG @ Gan Sou So and the dismantling of his heroin making laboratories in Quezon and Caloocan Cities.  It was then martial law in the Philippines and Lim Seng was sentenced by a military tribunal and was  executed by firing squad in 1973.          On March 16, 1974, CANU was granted full AFP TOE unit status and designated as AFP TOE C-125-5. Its personnel strength was increased to 67 officers and 238 enlisted personnel. In 1975, Task Force "Bagong Buhay" (TFBB) was activated pursuant to HPC LOI 4/75 to integrate law enforcement efforts of  the various anti narcotics units of the then Philippine Constabulary / Integrated National Police (PC/INP) paving the way for the reorganization of the CANU/TFBB's field enforcement units.           CANU's outstanding performance more than justified its creation. It was twice bestowed the Unit Citation Award in 1973 and 1974. Col Felix was subsequently chosen as PC/INP Commander of the Year in 1976.           CANU's capabilities in joint cooperation with foreign law enforcement counterparts led to the neutralization of a multi-national drug ring in an intricate operation that spanned throughout the Philippines, USA, Thailand and Guam where some million dollars worth of heroin were discovered to have been transshipped through the Philippines. Despite this, however, domestic traffic and abuse of heroin and morphine was kept at almost zero level. Cocaine and morphine LSD abuse was insignificant.  Domestic illicit drug problem worsened sometime 1979, despite relentless anti narcotics operation with marijuana proliferation rising to alarming level. An all-out war against Marijuana was waged with Col VIRGILIO DAVID as CANU's head at the helm to outscore the gains achieved during the last three years of CANU's existence with the objective of having a "Drug Free Family for a Healthier Society".

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1983 - CANU Elevated to AFP NARCOM

Recognizing the new threats of drugs, particularly marijuana not only among the youth but to national security as well in  view of the involvement of the CTs and SPTs in marijuana cultivation and to further improve the integrated and cooperative efforts of various government agencies in the campaign to curb drug abuse, and in particular, to assist CANU in the integration of all drug law enforcement efforts of the government, CANU was elevated as a special Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). Renamed as AFP NARCOM in February , 1 1983.  It  was  placed  under  the operational command of the Chief of Staff, AFP, but remained under the direct supervision of the then C, PC/DG, INP.           Under then Col. RAMON E MONTANO's leadership a major reorganization was carried out to ensure uninterrupted drug law enforcement and other related activities in stopping and curbing drug abuse.  The year saw the conceptualization of the National Strategy vs Drug Abuse anchored on the philosophy - "To keep the drugs away from the abusers/users away from drugs".  To keep the drugs away from the abusers, the strategy of drug-supply reduction was conceptualized to reduce the availability of drugs, control its proliferation and trafficking. To keep the abusers away from drugs, the strategy of drug demand reduction was conceptualized to increase public awareness on the harmful effects of drugs on the individual and its adverse effects on the socio-economic well being of the family and the country and thus prevent and control drug abuse.           In its 4th year, under the leadership of then Col PANTALEON G DUMLAO, NARCOM "Magkaisa Laban sa Droga" program was instituted. Despite the civilian nature of drug law enforcement, NARCOM played a dominant role in multi-agency drug law enforcement in the country.  In 1987, the Secretary of National Defense, as Chairman of the Peace and Order Council (POC), directed all LGUs to organize Anti-Drug Abuse Councils and Committee (ADACS) in order to attain a cohesive and intensified community involvement against drug abuse.           In 1989, again under Col DAVID's stewardship, NARCOM went through a major reorganization and house cleaning to improve its capabilities. Special attention was given to the removal of scalawags and the feilding of more men and material resources to the frontline operating units. The neutralization of Tomas Velasco, leader of the notorious 14K drug syndicate and the leader of Bamboo Gang, the dismantling of a Shabu laboratory in Binondo. Manila. The neutralization Poruntong-Oyson Gang; the neutralization of the Australia-Manila Connection, among others were the major accompklishments of NARCOM during the time.            During the December 1989 coup attempt, NARCOM remained united, loyal and steadfast in the the defense of the constitution and existing democratic government. and for that,  it was awarded the first and highest 1989 NAPOLCOM Streamer for a splendid performance.

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1991 - AFP NARCOM Redesignated as PNP NARCOM

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On January 2, 1991, the then PC/INP was deactivated and a new National Police was created pursuant to Republic Act 6975, known as the PNP Law. The AFP NARCOM's function was absorbed by the new PNP Narcotics Command which  revitalized the integration of all drug law enforcement efforts in order to realize the objective of destroying the drug trafficking network and to prevent and control demand and drug abuse under the leadership of BGEN JOB A MAYO JR. The year 1991 ushered in the need for NARCOM to go on networking to enhance total collective campaign to fight drug abuse.            In 1992, it was during his watch that NARCOM arrested   a  big  number  of  foreigner - traffickers.  Under then POLICE CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT DICTADOR L ALQUEZA, NARCOM  realigned  its  operational  capabilities to  confront  the  ever-changing  patterns  of  drug traffickers. It  won  of  public  support  in  its  drug prevention  program  especially  in  the  remote  places that were once isolated - its mobile preventive education and information teams were sucessful in reaching out to far plung areas to inform the public on the ill effects of drug addiction and in identifying potemtial drug dependents among their children and comunity.             This  time  under  the  Directorship  of  then POLICE SENIORSUPERINTENDENT RAMSEY L OCAMPO, in 1993, NARCOM estimates disclosed that the extent of the drurg menace exaberated the national crime rate 50%, with about 60% of showed the drug problem concentrated in Metro MAnila. Equally disturbing was the fact that the Philippines has become a major transshipment point for international drug traficking.           Moreover, the country has become one of the major exporters of marijuana.  OPLAN GREENGOLD was thus operationalized to extensively pursue MJ-eradication all over the archipelago.  Its relentless and intensified oeprations against drug syndicates and drug dealers/pushers achieved modest gains in NARCOM's anti-drug efforts in 1993 through its OPLAN THUNDERBOLT (vs Drug Syndicates/Lords) and against secondary street-level drug pushers under OPLAN ICEBERG.

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1995 - Reinventing Drug Law Enforcement

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The drug menace persisted despite the effectiveness of the national strategy.  Thus, the year 1995 saw the need to reinvent dryg law enforcement.  There was a felt need for new drug enforcement tools and new drug enforcement methods and techniques.  Accomplishment-wise, NARCOM made series of successes in drug law enforcement that started in the seizure/confiscation of 91 kilos of shabu worth P182,000,000.00 in La Union and the neutralization of an international drug syndicate member (Stanley Tan).             Taking over the helm of leadership in June 1995, P/SR SUPT REX D PIAD (GSC) announced his marching orders to his men:  "Concentrate on bigger targets", in reference to particularly neutralizing drug syndicate/drug lords in the conduct of narcotics operations while all anti-narcotics street-level operations shall be entrusted to PNP territorial forces.Under his able leadership, the Command mader better scores in the anti-narcotics campaign till the end of 1995: seizure/confiscation of 75 kilos of shabu with a market value of P150,000,000.00 and the arrest of a drug syndicate member (Johnny Pan).               In the pursuit of its drug demand-reduction strategy, the Command doubly intensified its Drug Abuse Preventive Education with some 139,314 students/youths, parents/barangay residents, NGOs/POs member benefiting from it.  The Command likewise, maximized its public information awareness efforts through the tri-media and pursued other anti-drug campaigns and Police Community Relations activities, to include its treatment-and-rehabilitation programs (Sagip-Yagit) and (Sagip-Kabataan).

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1996 - Working Together Towards a Drug Free Philippines

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Recognizing that drug Drugs Ends All Dreams (DEAD), NARCOM has forged a vision:  Working together towards a drug-free Philippines.  True to his (PIAD) words,  in early 1996, the PNP NARCOM made the biggest haul ever in the field of drug law enforcement: seizure/recovery of some 140 kilos of shabu with a market value of P280 million and the neutralization of a drug syndicate member (Chen Tin Lun), busting the pipeline of shabu in the China-HK-Philippine Connection.  This was followed by the seizure/confiscation of 1.5 kilos of heroin and the arrest of another drug syndicate member (Chen Chi Chung). NARCOM had confiscated/recovered P1.89 Billion worth of illicit drugs and arrested 999 persons including 25 foreigners, 22 members of the PNP/AFP, and 8 killed in action.       Intensifying its Preventive Education, Public Information and other anti-drugs abuse and PCR activities, anti-drugs slogan blitz in the tri-media among other information efforts, have been launched by the Command.  132,115 teachers/students/out of school youths/barangay residents and civic leaders benefited from 404 occasions of drug preventive education in various fora for this year alone.  For its laudable accomplishments, the Command won the "PNP Operational Support Unit of the Year" award during the 5th PNP Day program last January 1996.           The NARCOM has remained in the forefront in the war versus drugs.  It has gained the reputation of being a premier drug law enforcement agency tasked with the prevention/control of drug proliferation/traficking and drug abuse.  To its credit, the Command was cited by the Chairman, Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), concurrent Secretary of the Department of Health, Hon Hilarion Ramiro, as "One of the finest, most credible police command ranked among the best in Asia" during the 13th NARCOM Anniversary celebration last February 1996.          On 27 May 1996, in Resolution Nr. 40 of the 10th Congress, NARCOM earned the highest recognition from the House of Representatives (Congress) for its outstanding and meritorious accomplishments in the field of drug law enforcement-NARCOM seized approximately P3.7 Billion worth of drugs and arrested 2,874 persons including 40 foreigners in two (2) years under then P/CSUPT PIAD.          During the DDB recognition rites in celebration of Drug Abuse Prevention and Control (DAPC) week 14 November 1996, P/CSUPT PIAD was given a Plaque of Recognition by the DDB for his and his unit's efforts in the anti-drug campaign.  Then, on 18 November, he (PIAD) received from the International NArcotics Enforcement Officers Association (INEOA) based in the United States of America, the International Award of Honor hall of fame, for his and his unit's invaluable contribution to and exemplary performance in the campaign against illicit drugs.           Despite commendable efforts at drug law enforcement, the ranks of drug abusers continued to grow, thus, drug demand reduction efforts were now equally matched with drug supply reduction efforts.  Necessarily, the cooperative partnership of police community-LGU and the collaborative relationship between and among the 5 pillars of the Criminal Justice System were deemed imperative to defeat the growing drug menace.  A people's initiative against drugs and the organization-and-mobilization of anti-drug coaliton/groups had to be orchestrated by the group.

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1997 - OPLAN BANAT

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The year opened with Gen. PIAD being awarded as the "HERO OF THE WEEK" by DZEC radio program, "best friends kontra droga". Focusing attention to target drug abusers and batting for a policy of drug-test as part of health care program in the PNP/AFP, GOs/NGOs/POs including the provision for mandatory rehabilitation and confinement of drug dependents, Operation BANAT (Barangay Against Narcotics Abuse and Trafficking) has been conceptualized on July 1997 by NARCOM. Basically a barangay-cleansing project, its components are: the identification of drug-affected barangays;  neutralization of drug pushers and abusers: intensified conduct of DAPE/CI and PCR/PIA programs including PI & E/PEVO and MRP activities (to enhance public awareness of the drug menace and drum up community support and citizen involvement in drug law-enforcement, Preventive Education and Community Information);  treatment and rehabilitation efforts-insuring that the barangay is drug-free and empowered to sustain a drug-free barangay, a co-called "BARBERRS" barangay:  A Barangay that is Awakened and Reformed Brought about by an Enlightened and Responsive Society. Thus, the five (5) Metro Narcotics District Offices conducted BANAT operations in piloted Metro-Manila barangays accounting for some 1000-persons; identified pushers were accordingly charged for violations of RA 6425 and those found positive for drug use were brought to rehab centers.                Further strengthening the campaign against the drug menace which has become serious and alarming thereby posing a threat to national security, upon direction of President Fidel V Ramos on 04 August 1997, the Department of Justice (with the Secretary as concurrent Chairman, Dangerous Drugs Board) took over the lead in the campaign with the DILG/PNP and DND/AFP in support roles.  Just after the 15 August drug summit in Malacanang that conceptualized an integrated plan (COMPLAN MABUHAY) to address the problem of drug abuse and trafficking utilizing all capabilities of government and  civil society  P/SSUPT REYNALDO M ACOP, took over as the new Director of the Group in a mass turn-over rite on 18 August 1997.               P/SSUPT REYNALDO M ACOP emphatically announced that NARGRP under then P/CSUPT PIAD left a legacy in the government's anti-drugs campaign as "it's (NARGRP) efforts and contribution to the national strategy (of Drug-Supply and Drug-Demand Reduction) towards a drug-free Philippines raised the level of consciousness and enhaced public awareness about the drugs and the evils and consequences it bring about reaching far and wide across and within the nation and civil society".  In short, P/CSUPT PIAD's expose about the menace stirred a "hornet's nest", so to speak.              On his (ACOP) shoulders now rested the initiative to pursue Operation BANAT, P/SSUPT ACOP embarked on a revamp-and-clean up of organization and renamed NARGRP as PNP ANTI-NARCOTICS GROUP, with the Regional Narcotics Offices as Regional Anti-Narcotics Offices (RANOs) and Metro Manila Narcotics District Offices (ANDOs).  On 8 December 1997, in accordance with the PNP staffing pattern and in order to come up with a lean-and-mean organization to enhance operational effectiveness in narcotics operations in MMA, these ANDOs were reorganized into two (2): South Metro Narcotics District Office (SMNDO) which has jurisdiction over Manila, Makati City, Pasay City, Marikina city, Muntinlupa city, Las Pinas, Paranaque, Taguig, Pateros and San Juan and North Metro Narcotics District Office (NMNDO) covering the areas of Quezon city, Caloocan City, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela.             Just two (2) days after the change of command of the PNP leadership (from DIR GEN RECAREDO A SARMIENTO II to DIR SANTIAGO L ALINO), P/SSUPT ACOP received his promotion to P/CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT effective 19 December 1997.

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1998 - Be Drug Free and Stay Drug Free

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On the occasion of the Group's 26th Founding Anniversary where 26 police officers were awarded medals of recognition for their respective role-and-contribution in the anti-drug campaign, P/CSUPT ACOP asked his men, PNP personnel and their dependents to "Be drug-free and stay-drug-free".  The statement is actually an acronym of his Drug Abuse Prevention and Control (DAPC) tips.              The year saw NARGRP make a major breakthrough in reforming its not-so-positive image.  Acop was cited by the UNited States government for his Internal Reforms Program that resulted to the relief of members found to be drug users themselves or either directly or indirectly involved in the illicit drugs trade.  The US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) further cited Acop for transforming NARGRP into a "more credible anti-narcotics unit" as well as making significant dents in joint US-Philippine efforts against drugs.              Under P/CSUPT ACOP's stewardship, approx P390 million worth of drugs including a big quantity of heroin were seized/confiscated. 24 foreigners were among some 1,496 persons arrested for big-time drug trafficking, including a level-2 drug personality, Dewey Dy y Yap.              A year after its implementation, Opertion BANAT proved its effectiveness-collaborative barangay participation and support let to the sucess of a joint PNP Police Regional Office 2 (PRO2) - NARGRP's recovery/confiscation of some 235 kilos of liquid and crystalline shabu from a northern island-municipality in the Cagayan region on June 1998.  Estimated to be worth P465 million, this is the biggest haul of shabu for the year.  As a result of subsequent narcotics operation, five (5) persons including a member of the 14K drug syndicate were likewise arrested and charged according for violation of RA 6425, as amended by RA 7659.             When P/SSUPT REYNOR R GONZALES - a CANU "original" - took over the leadership of NARGRP on 24 August 1998, he beefed up the personnel strength of SOD and the RNOs and merged the two (2) Metro NDOs into one (1) Metro Manila Narcotics Office (MMNO) in compliance with the AC, PNP's DREAMS Strategy of community policing - the dispersal of 85% of the group's total strength to the field.             Pursuing the humble operational accomplishments of his predecessors and orchestrating allied narcotics operations at Police Regional/District/Station-levels, MMNO operatives, combined elements of SOD, PPO's, RNOs - in coordination with the Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Tasked Force (PAOCTF) under P/DIR PANFILO LACSON - conducted narc operations notable of which is the series of operations launched against Filipinos and Nigerians where some P50 million worth of heroin and cocaine were seized/confiscated by joint Philpost-Bureau of Customs-PASCOM-NAIA Police-NARGRP teams.  Overall, these oerations, netted some P132 million worth of drugs including cocaine concealed in perfume containers, diaries and heroin well-concealed in blades of butchers knives.  Among the 560 persons arrested, 11 were foreigners including two (2) 14K gang members.              P/SSUPT GONZALES has likewise sustained vigorous bu focused implementation of Operation-BANAT in close collaboration with local PNP police offices nationwide by deploying operating teams in the barangays, especially in drug prone/source areas, with the assistance of Barangay Leaders and Tanods and with the involvement of the Multi-Sectoral Community which maximized citizen participation.              Thus, with Pasig City at the pilot project area, in a three(3) month period some 252 drug pushers and users were rounded up for drug possession/pushing and/or during pot-session.       Before the year ended, NARGRP - in cooperation with DSWD's Ahon-Bata sa Lansangan program - conducted Oplan Sagip-Yagit and rounded up a hundred street children, so-called "Rugby Boys", to keep them off the streets, away from drugs and crimes.

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1999 - Creation of the NDLEPCC

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Despite earlier efforts of government and NARGRP to stem the tide of drugs proliferation and reduce/control drug abuse, the drug menace loomed as a serious national security threat - the population of drug users ranks continued to grow with 1.2 million aged 15-30 years old as drug users; ; 70% of crimes committed were drug-related, the no. of MJ plantations grew to 98 sites located in 9 regions; 70% of drug activities were concentrated in MMA; drug-affectation of some 6,000 plus barangays; and the country remained a significant spot in the global drug map, either as importer/exporter/cultivator/consumer of and/or transit point for illicit drugs.         Disturbed by the seriousness of the drug problem, no less than His Excellency, President Joseph E Estrada, has called for a massive anti-drugs campaign in his desire to attain A Drug-Free Philippin by the year 2000.  Thus, under the auspices of the PAOCTF and spearheaded by NARGRP, a series of planning conferences/workshops came up with a list of barangays with drug-affectation, identification of Drug Supply Hierarchy (DSH), and a list of drug pushers and users to be targeted for the campaign.              For five (5) days, starting 15 January, in one sweep by the PNP, NARGRP and the PAOCTF, some 1733 persons were arrested, identified to be drug traffickers, pushers and users, approximately P72 million worth of shabu, marijuana and other illicit drugs were seized/confiscated/         On 15 January 1999, Exec Order Nr 61 was signed by PJEE creating the National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center (NDLEPCC), a single body especially tasked to orchestrate and consolidate the drug law enforcement and prevention efforts to national government agencies, LGUs and NGOs to have a more effective anti-drugs campaign at the national down to barangay levels.         Chairmanned, by PJEE as concurrent SILG, the NDLEPCC has the CPNP as Vice-Chairman with the Chief, PAOCTF; Chairman, DDB; Director, NBI; Commissioner, Bureau of Immigration; Chief, National Prosecution Service and Commissioner, Bureau of Customs as members.  PJEE appointed P/DIR JEWEL F CANSON as the Executive Director of its secretariat, with participating agencies that include the DOH, DOJ, DND, DECS, DOF, DSWD, DOLE, DDB, PIA, PNP, AFP, NBI, National Prosecution Service, Bureau of Customs, BIR, BID, NICA, EIIB, PCG, Philpost and other agencies, as needed. ACTIVITIES OF THE UNIT Strategy:               Supply Reduction - is addressed in various OPLAN's: against high level drug trafficking organizations and an expanded street level operations that tend to disrupt and disorganized drug pushing activities.               Demand Reduction - is dedicated to deny the market from drug syndicates, pushers, and consisting of preventive information and education, and treatment and rehabilitation.               International Cooperation - involves continuing liaison with international drug enforcement agencies on mutually supporting reporting relationship against international drug trafficking.  This encompasses foreign training exchange, in service training, intelligence exchange, marijuana eradication and infusion of modern equipment and facilities.               Intra-unit Coordination Exchange is to effect a well-organized nationwide drug law enforcement thrust.  This includes training exchanges and operational coordination.               Legal Offensive - ensures successful prosecution of drug-related offense cases that bring focus the conduct of evidence-oriented investigation, case tracking, prosecutory, development and research. National Dimension:             Neutralize high-level drug traficking organization.             Multiple coordinating mechanism as an effective counter-drug initiative. International:             Effective network and intelligence exchange.             Infrastructure Modernization.