Law enforcers will soon be allowed to wire tap cases involving violations of Republic Act 9165, otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill exempting wire tapping from the restrictions under Republic Act 4200, otherwise known as “An Act to Prohibit and Penalize Wire Tapping and Other Related Violations of the Privacy of Communication, and for Other Purposes,” in drug-related cases.
In defending House Bill 6107, Iligan City representative Vicente F. Belmonte Jr, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs and principal author, said RA 9165 has, for more than a decade, provided the drug law enforcement units the arsenal for the government’s all-out war against the drug menace.
However, Belmonte said, despite the accomplishments in supply and demand reduction, drug syndicates have become fearless and resourceful in plying their nefarious trade.
“Convicted drug lords operate within the secured confines of their detention facilities, clandestine laboratories are set-up in exclusive villages and high rise condominiums at the heart of Metro Manila, drug peddlers have grown in numbers including children and senior citizens,” Belmonte said.
“There is an urgent need to equip our drug law enforcers with the capability to stop the drug menace at its very core, to cut the roots of the drug syndicates and convict drug lords and not just the peddlers,” Belmonte stressed.
According to Belmonte, in most anti-drug operations, only the small players are rounded up while the drug lords remain scot-free.
“The measure shall strengthen the anti-drug campaign of government by authorizing law enforcers to wiretap, intercept, and record the communications and surveillance of pushers, manufacturers, cultivators, importers and financiers of dangerous drugs,” Belmonte said.
Under the measure, violations of RA 9165 shall be included among the offenses that are exempted from the restrictions under RA 4200.
