DAVAO CITY, (PNA) -– In just a year, about 15.82 percent of persons arrested for illegal drugs only within the area of responsibility of Sta. Ana Police Station comprised of women, Sta. Ana Philippine National Police (PNP) accomplishment records showed.
From September 5, 2012 to September 5, 2013, Sta. Ana police operatives were able to arrest a total of 177 persons in which 149 were males and 28 were females, in 114 anti-drug operations they had conducted within a year.
The police records further showed that a total of 197 cases were already in court wherein 68 cases were for selling drugs in violation of Section 5 of Republic Act 9165 or Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, 83 for illegal drugs possession under Section 11; 10 for using illegal drugs.
There were 14 cases for possession of illegal drugs paraphernalia (Section 12); 13 cases for possessing drugs during parties or meetings (Section 13); nine cases for possession of illegal drugs paraphernalia during parties and meetings (Section 14); and nine cases for maintaining illegal drugs den (Section 26).
Last year, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) was alarmed by the rising trend of women involved in illegal drugs trade in the country.
PDEA central office recorded a total of 872 women arrested for illegal drugs in 2010. It increased to 927 in 2011 and from January 2012 to July 2013, there were already 213 women arrested.
Then PDEA Director General Jose Gutierrez Jr. warned that the phenomenon of women getting involved in illegal drug activities could lead to drug abuse among families.
The PDEA data further revealed that women in drug pushing were increasing wherein in 2011, 76 percent of females arrested were into drug peddling, a two percent increase in 2010.
In Davao City, at least three women involved in drugs were arrested recently during police operations late August and September 2013.
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in Davao Region also recorded a higher percentage of female drug suspects than males.
Sr. Superintendent Amelia Talento earlier revealed that out of 152 female detainees in 2012, 84.87 percent or 129 are jailed for selling illegal drugs.
Talento commented that poverty could have driven these women into illegal drugs trade.