Sen. Raffy Tulfo on September 16 called on the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to create a system and program to train its personnel become experts in drug mule profiling.
During Monday’s hearing of the Senate Finance Subcommittee C on the proposed PDEA budget for 2025, Tulfo suggested that the PDEA, as a lead agency in fighting illegal drugs in the country, must train its personnel abroad.
“(Get) training from other countries on how to profile a drug mule and then train personnel from Bureau of Immigration, Customs, the airport police and others,” Tulfo said.
He said the canines they use can’t smell cocaine.
PDEA Usec. Moro Virgilio Lazo said PDEA personnel do not have training in drug mule profiling. He also admitted the agency’s canines lack training in detecting cocaine, opium, and heroin.
In the same hearing, Sen. Ronald Dela Rosa urged the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release to the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) the PHP126 million total fund it obtained as mandatory contribution remittances from various government agencies.
In 2023, DDB Usec. Earl Saavedra said PAGCOR contributed PHP60 million; Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, PHP42.2-million; Metro Manila Turf Club, PHP1.2-million; and the DDB’s collection from licenses, certifications, exemptions, PHP22.5-million; and from fines and penalties, PHP846 thousands.
However, DBM, released only PHP77-million out their PHP126.9 million collection in 2023.
These funds are intended for projects as mandated by the law. These include continuing implementation of community-based drug rehabilitation for mild and moderate drug dependents, and expansion of infrastructure for in-patient treatment and rehabilitation facilities in partnership with the Department of Health.
The senator, who presided over the Finance Subcommittee C hearing also discussed the DDB’s utilization of its 2024 budget, the highlights of the agency’s accomplishments from 2023 to 2024, and the major plans and programs for 2025.
Dela Rosa also questioned PDEA if bald men and women can undergo a hair follicle drug test.
The PDEA said it is currently “not capable” of hair follicle drug testing but the agency is “developing” it.
Lazo said their own research showed hair follicles that were shaved from a person’s body could not be used for drug tests.
“The issue with the hair follicle test is that once I cut my hair, it’s useless.”
Dela Rosa then asked if genital hair or nasal hair could be used for this type of drug test.
Lazo replied that any hair will do. But once it is cut, there’s no trace left.
“Anyone who wants to do a hair follicle test but they’ve already shaved, it’s useless. Even a woman, for example, it’s useless.”
PDEA Laboratory Service acting director Angela Salvador said this kind of test could detect drug use in the past 90 days. She said the standard period for detection of drugs in hair varies, but the average is 90 days.
She said that this is very different from urine test which only detects “recent use” of drugs.
She said drug test using urine could only detect methamphetamine hydrochloride (“shabu”) two to three days after a person’s last use.
For cannabis or marijuana, it could be detected in urine drug tests up to one week from a person’s last use.
