RP-US TROOPS START ANTI- 'NARCOTERRORISM' EXERCISE

American and Filipino soldiers and anti-drug personnel Monday started a month-long training on anti narcoterrorism at Camp Bado Dangwa in La Trinidad, Benguet, and the Philippine Military Academy as well as at the Public Safety College Regional Training School in Davao City.

Baker Piston 04-2, is the first joint exercise to tackle narcoterrorism in the country.  The Philippines is considered one of the major transshipment points of methamphetamine hydrochloride ( shabu ) and marijuana in Southeast Asia.

According to a recent United Nations report, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines are the major sources of marijuana in the region.  The Cordillera is the country's major source of marijuana.

"The war on drugs is a fight for everyone and a better-trained police officer and agent only makes our communities safer against the intimidation and fears brought on by drugs," a press statement from Camp Dangwa said.

Ten American narcotics experts and 100 participants from the Armed Forces, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police will take part in the training.

The participants are expected to learn the methods of drug seizure, including the gathering, identification and preservation of pieces of evidence in the war against drugs using state-of-the-art technology like geographical positioning systems ( GPS ).

GPS is a technology dependent on satellites which help locate persons, structures or remote areas.

"Baker Piston 04-2 is designed to enhance the inter-operability between the military, federal and civil agencies," the Camp Dangwa statement said.

"It will improve their abilities to identify and preserve evidence, evacuate casualties, gather intelligence and instruct others to fight narcotics."

The Philippines is also one of the three largest producers of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, said a United Nations world drug report.

The report, commissioned by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, said that Myanmar, China and the Philippines are the main sources of shabu.

Shabu from the Philippines goes to Australia and United States.