Be It Enacted by The Senate and House of Representatives of The Philippines in Congress
Be It Enacted by The Senate and House of Representatives of The Philippines in Congress
Be It Enacted by The Senate and House of Representatives of The Philippines in Congress
Twelfth Congress
First Regular Session
Section 1. Short Title. – This Act shall be known and cited as the "Comprehensive Dangerous
Drugs Act of 2002".
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to safeguard the integrity of its
territory and the well-being of its citizenry particularly the youth, from the harmful effects of
dangerous drugs on their physical and mental well-being, and to defend the same against acts or
omissions detrimental to their development and preservation. In view of the foregoing, the State
needs to enhance further the efficacy of the law against dangerous drugs, it being one of today's
more serious social ills.
Toward this end, the government shall pursue an intensive and unrelenting campaign against the
trafficking and use of dangerous drugs and other similar substances through an integrated
system of planning, implementation and enforcement of anti-drug abuse policies, programs, and
projects. The government shall however aim to achieve a balance in the national drug control
program so that people with legitimate medical needs are not prevented from being treated with
adequate amounts of appropriate medications, which include the use of dangerous drugs.
It is further declared the policy of the State to provide effective mechanisms or measures to re-
integrate into society individuals who have fallen victims to drug abuse or dangerous drug
dependence through sustainable programs of treatment and rehabilitation.
ARTICLE I
Definition of terms
Section 3. Definitions. As used in this Act, the following terms shall mean:
(a) Administer. – Any act of introducing any dangerous drug into the body of any person, with or
without his/her knowledge, by injection, inhalation, ingestion or other means, or of committing
any act of indispensable assistance to a person in administering a dangerous drug to
himself/herself unless administered by a duly licensed practitioner for purposes of medication.
(b) Board. - Refers to the Dangerous Drugs Board under Section 77, Article IX of this Act.
(c) Centers. - Any of the treatment and rehabilitation centers for drug dependents referred to in
Section 34, Article VIII of this Act.
(d) Chemical Diversion. – The sale, distribution, supply or transport of legitimately imported, in-
transit, manufactured or procured controlled precursors and essential chemicals, in diluted,
mixtures or in concentrated form, to any person or entity engaged in the manufacture of any
dangerous drug, and shall include packaging, repackaging, labeling, relabeling or concealment
of such transaction through fraud, destruction of documents, fraudulent use of permits,
misdeclaration, use of front companies or mail fraud.
(e) Clandestine Laboratory. – Any facility used for the illegal manufacture of any dangerous drug
and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical.
(f) Confirmatory Test. – An analytical test using a device, tool or equipment with a different
chemical or physical principle that is more specific which will validate and confirm the result of
the screening test.
(h) Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals. – Include those listed in Tables I and II of the
1988 UN Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances as
enumerated in the attached annex, which is an integral part of this Act.
(i) Cultivate or Culture. – Any act of knowingly planting, growing, raising, or permitting the
planting, growing or raising of any plant which is the source of a dangerous drug.
(j) Dangerous Drugs. – Include those listed in the Schedules annexed to the 1961 Single
Convention on Narcotic Drugs, as amended by the 1972 Protocol, and in the Schedules annexed
to the 1971 Single Convention on Psychotropic Substances as enumerated in the attached
annex which is an integral part of this Act.
(k) Deliver. – Any act of knowingly passing a dangerous drug to another, personally or otherwise,
and by any means, with or without consideration.
(l) Den, Dive or Resort. – A place where any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and
essential chemical is administered, delivered, stored for illegal purposes, distributed, sold or used
in any form.
(m) Dispense. – Any act of giving away, selling or distributing medicine or any dangerous drug
with or without the use of prescription.
(n) Drug Dependence. – As based on the World Health Organization definition, it is a cluster of
physiological, behavioral and cognitive phenomena of variable intensity, in which the use of
psychoactive drug takes on a high priority thereby involving, among others, a strong desire or a
sense of compulsion to take the substance and the difficulties in controlling substance-taking
behavior in terms of its onset, termination, or levels of use.
(o) Drug Syndicate. – Any organized group of two (2) or more persons forming or joining together
with the intention of committing any offense prescribed under this Act.
(p) Employee of Den, Dive or Resort. – The caretaker, helper, watchman, lookout, and other
persons working in the den, dive or resort, employed by the maintainer, owner and/or operator
where any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical is administered,
delivered, distributed, sold or used, with or without compensation, in connection with the
operation thereof.
(q) Financier. – Any person who pays for, raises or supplies money for, or underwrites any of the
illegal activities prescribed under this Act.
(r) Illegal Trafficking. – The illegal cultivation, culture, delivery, administration, dispensation,
manufacture, sale, trading, transportation, distribution, importation, exportation and possession of
any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical.
(s) Instrument. – Any thing that is used in or intended to be used in any manner in the
commission of illegal drug trafficking or related offenses.
(t) Laboratory Equipment. – The paraphernalia, apparatus, materials or appliances when used,
intended for use or designed for use in the manufacture of any dangerous drug and/or controlled
precursor and essential chemical, such as reaction vessel, preparative/purifying equipment,
fermentors, separatory funnel, flask, heating mantle, gas generator, or their substitute.
(v) Cannabis or commonly known as "Marijuana" or "Indian Hemp" or by its any other name. –
Embraces every kind, class, genus, or specie of the plant Cannabis sativa L. including, but not
limited to, Cannabis americana, hashish, bhang, guaza, churrus and ganjab, and embraces
every kind, class and character of marijuana, whether dried or fresh and flowering, flowering or
fruiting tops, or any part or portion of the plant and seeds thereof, and all its geographic varieties,
whether as a reefer, resin, extract, tincture or in any form whatsoever.
(x) Methamphetamine Hydrochloride or commonly known as "Shabu", "Ice", "Meth", or by its any
other name. – Refers to the drug having such chemical composition, including any of its isomers
or derivatives in any form.
(y) Opium. – Refers to the coagulated juice of the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) and
embraces every kind, class and character of opium, whether crude or prepared; the ashes or
refuse of the same; narcotic preparations thereof or therefrom; morphine or any alkaloid of
opium; preparations in which opium, morphine or any alkaloid of opium enters as an ingredient;
opium poppy; opium poppy straw; and leaves or wrappings of opium leaves, whether prepared
for use or not.
(z) Opium Poppy. – Refers to any part of the plant of the species Papaver somniferum L.,
Papaver setigerum DC, Papaver orientale, Papaver bracteatum and Papaver rhoeas, which
includes the seeds, straws, branches, leaves or any part thereof, or substances derived
therefrom, even for floral, decorative and culinary purposes.
(aa) PDEA. – Refers to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency under Section 82, Article IX of
this Act.
(bb) Person. – Any entity, natural or juridical, including among others, a corporation, partnership,
trust or estate, joint stock company, association, syndicate, joint venture or other unincorporated
organization or group capable of acquiring rights or entering into obligations.
(cc) Planting of Evidence. – The willful act by any person of maliciously and surreptitiously
inserting, placing, adding or attaching directly or indirectly, through any overt or covert act,
whatever quantity of any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical in
the person, house, effects or in the immediate vicinity of an innocent individual for the purpose of
implicating, incriminating or imputing the commission of any violation of this Act.
(dd) Practitioner. – Any person who is a licensed physician, dentist, chemist, medical
technologist, nurse, midwife, veterinarian or pharmacist in the Philippines.
(ee) Protector/Coddler. – Any person who knowingly and willfully consents to the unlawful acts
provided for in this Act and uses his/her influence, power or position in shielding, harboring,
screening or facilitating the escape of any person he/she knows, or has reasonable grounds to
believe on or suspects, has violated the provisions of this Act in order to prevent the arrest,
prosecution and conviction of the violator.
(ff) Pusher. – Any person who sells, trades, administers, dispenses, delivers or gives away to
another, on any terms whatsoever, or distributes, dispatches in transit or transports dangerous
drugs or who acts as a broker in any of such transactions, in violation of this Act.
(gg) School. – Any educational institution, private or public, undertaking educational operation for
pupils/students pursuing certain studies at defined levels, receiving instructions from teachers,
usually located in a building or a group of buildings in a particular physical or cyber site.
(hh) Screening Test. – A rapid test performed to establish potential/presumptive positive result.
(ii) Sell. – Any act of giving away any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential
chemical whether for money or any other consideration.
(jj) Trading. – Transactions involving the illegal trafficking of dangerous drugs and/or controlled
precursors and essential chemicals using electronic devices such as, but not limited to, text
messages, email, mobile or landlines, two-way radios, internet, instant messengers and chat
rooms or acting as a broker in any of such transactions whether for money or any other
consideration in violation of this Act.
ARTICLE II
The maximum penalty provided for under this Section shall be imposed upon any person, who,
unless authorized under this Act, shall import or bring into the Philippines any dangerous drug
and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical through the use of a diplomatic passport,
diplomatic facilities or any other means involving his/her official status intended to facilitate the
unlawful entry of the same. In addition, the diplomatic passport shall be confiscated and
canceled.
The maximum penalty provided for under this Section shall be imposed upon any person, who
organizes, manages or acts as a "financier" of any of the illegal activities prescribed in this
Section.
The penalty of twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years of imprisonment and a fine
ranging from One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos
(P500,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person, who acts as a "protector/coddler" of any
violator of the provisions under this Section.
The penalty of imprisonment ranging from twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years
and a fine ranging from One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to Five hundred thousand
pesos (P500,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person, who, unless authorized by law, shall
sell, trade, administer, dispense, deliver, give away to another, distribute, dispatch in transit or
transport any controlled precursor and essential chemical, or shall act as a broker in such
transactions.
For drug pushers who use minors or mentally incapacitated individuals as runners, couriers and
messengers, or in any other capacity directly connected to the dangerous drugs and/or controlled
precursors and essential chemical trade, the maximum penalty shall be imposed in every case.
The maximum penalty provided for under this Section shall be imposed upon any person who
organizes, manages or acts as a "financier" of any of the illegal activities prescribed in this
Section.
The penalty of twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years of imprisonment and a fine
ranging from One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos
(P500,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person, who acts as a "protector/coddler" of any
violator of the provisions under this Section.
Section 6. Maintenance of a Den, Dive or Resort. - The penalty of life imprisonment to death and
a fine ranging from Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) to Ten million pesos
(P10,000,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person or group of persons who shall maintain a
den, dive or resort where any dangerous drug is used or sold in any form.
The penalty of imprisonment ranging from twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years
and a fine ranging from One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to Five hundred thousand
pesos (P500,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person or group of persons who shall maintain
a den, dive, or resort where any controlled precursor and essential chemical is used or sold in
any form.
The maximum penalty provided for under this Section shall be imposed in every case where any
dangerous drug is administered, delivered or sold to a minor who is allowed to use the same in
such a place.
Should any dangerous drug be the proximate cause of the death of a person using the same in
such den, dive or resort, the penalty of death and a fine ranging from One million
(P1,000,000.00) to Fifteen million pesos (P500,000.00) shall be imposed on the maintainer,
owner and/or operator.
If such den, dive or resort is owned by a third person, the same shall be confiscated and
escheated in favor of the government: Provided, That the criminal complaint shall specifically
allege that such place is intentionally used in the furtherance of the crime: Provided, further, That
the prosecution shall prove such intent on the part of the owner to use the property for such
purpose: Provided, finally, That the owner shall be included as an accused in the criminal
complaint.
The maximum penalty provided for under this Section shall be imposed upon any person who
organizes, manages or acts as a "financier" of any of the illegal activities prescribed in this
Section.
The penalty twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years of imprisonment and a fine
ranging from One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos
(P500,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person, who acts as a "protector/coddler" of any
violator of the provisions under this Section.
Section 7. Employees and Visitors of a Den, Dive or Resort. - The penalty of imprisonment
ranging from twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years and a fine ranging from One
hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) shall be
imposed upon:
(a) Any employee of a den, dive or resort, who is aware of the nature of the place as
such; and
(b) Any person who, not being included in the provisions of the next preceding,
paragraph, is aware of the nature of the place as such and shall knowingly visit the same
The presence of any controlled precursor and essential chemical or laboratory equipment in the
clandestine laboratory is a prima facie proof of manufacture of any dangerous drug. It shall be
considered an aggravating circumstance if the clandestine laboratory is undertaken or
established under the following circumstances:
(a) Any phase of the manufacturing process was conducted in the presence or with the
help of minor/s:
(b) Any phase or manufacturing process was established or undertaken within one
hundred (100) meters of a residential, business, church or school premises;
(c) Any clandestine laboratory was secured or protected with booby traps;
(d) Any clandestine laboratory was concealed with legitimate business operations; or
The maximum penalty provided for under this Section shall be imposed upon any person, who
organizes, manages or acts as a "financier" of any of the illegal activities prescribed in this
Section.
The penalty of twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years of imprisonment and a fine
ranging from One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos
(P500,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person, who acts as a "protector/coddler" of any
violator of the provisions under this Section.
Section 9. Illegal Chemical Diversion of Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals. - The
penalty of imprisonment ranging from twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years and
a fine ranging from One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to Five hundred thousand
pesos (P500,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person, who, unless authorized by law, shall
illegally divert any controlled precursor and essential chemical.
The penalty of imprisonment ranging from six (6) months and one (1) day to four (4) years and a
fine ranging from Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) to Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) shall
be imposed if it will be used to inject, ingest, inhale or otherwise introduce into the human body a
dangerous drug in violation of this Act.
The maximum penalty provided for under this Section shall be imposed upon any person, who
uses a minor or a mentally incapacitated individual to deliver such equipment, instrument,
apparatus and other paraphernalia for dangerous drugs.
Section 11. Possession of Dangerous Drugs. - The penalty of life imprisonment to death and a
fine ranging from Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00) to Ten million pesos
(P10,000,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person, who, unless authorized by law, shall
possess any dangerous drug in the following quantities, regardless of the degree of purity
thereof:
(8) 10 grams or more of other dangerous drugs such as, but not limited to,
methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDA) or "ecstasy", paramethoxyamphetamine
(PMA), trimethoxyamphetamine (TMA), lysergic acid diethylamine (LSD), gamma
hydroxyamphetamine (GHB), and those similarly designed or newly introduced drugs and
their derivatives, without having any therapeutic value or if the quantity possessed is far
beyond therapeutic requirements, as determined and promulgated by the Board in
accordance to Section 93, Article XI of this Act.
Otherwise, if the quantity involved is less than the foregoing quantities, the penalties shall be
graduated as follows:
(1) Life imprisonment and a fine ranging from Four hundred thousand pesos
(P400,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00), if the quantity of
methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu" is ten (10) grams or more but less than fifty
(50) grams;
(2) Imprisonment of twenty (20) years and one (1) day to life imprisonment and a fine
ranging from Four hundred thousand pesos (P400,000.00) to Five hundred thousand
pesos (P500,000.00), if the quantities of dangerous drugs are five (5) grams or more but
less than ten (10) grams of opium, morphine, heroin, cocaine or cocaine hydrochloride,
marijuana resin or marijuana resin oil, methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu", or
other dangerous drugs such as, but not limited to, MDMA or "ecstasy", PMA, TMA, LSD,
GHB, and those similarly designed or newly introduced drugs and their derivatives,
without having any therapeutic value or if the quantity possessed is far beyond
therapeutic requirements; or three hundred (300) grams or more but less than five
(hundred) 500) grams of marijuana; and
(3) Imprisonment of twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years and a fine
ranging from Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) to Four hundred thousand
pesos (P400,000.00), if the quantities of dangerous drugs are less than five (5) grams of
opium, morphine, heroin, cocaine or cocaine hydrochloride, marijuana resin or marijuana
resin oil, methamphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu", or other dangerous drugs such as,
but not limited to, MDMA or "ecstasy", PMA, TMA, LSD, GHB, and those similarly
designed or newly introduced drugs and their derivatives, without having any therapeutic
value or if the quantity possessed is far beyond therapeutic requirements; or less than
three hundred (300) grams of marijuana.
The possession of such equipment, instrument, apparatus and other paraphernalia fit or intended
for any of the purposes enumerated in the preceding paragraph shall be prima facie evidence
that the possessor has smoked, consumed, administered to himself/herself, injected, ingested or
used a dangerous drug and shall be presumed to have violated Section 15 of this Act.
The land or portions thereof and/or greenhouses on which any of said plants is cultivated or
cultured shall be confiscated and escheated in favor of the State, unless the owner thereof can
prove lack of knowledge of such cultivation or culture despite the exercise of due diligence on
his/her part. If the land involved is part of the public domain, the maximum penalty provided for
under this Section shall be imposed upon the offender.
The maximum penalty provided for under this Section shall be imposed upon any person, who
organizes, manages or acts as a "financier" of any of the illegal activities prescribed in this
Section.
The penalty of twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years of imprisonment and a fine
ranging from One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to Five hundred thousand pesos
(P500,000.00) shall be imposed upon any person, who acts as a "protector/coddler" of any
violator of the provisions under this Section.
An additional penalty shall be imposed through the revocation of the license to practice his/her
profession, in case of a practitioner, or of the business, in case of a manufacturer, seller,
importer, distributor, dealer or retailer.
Section 20. Confiscation and Forfeiture of the Proceeds or Instruments of the Unlawful Act,
Including the Properties or Proceeds Derived from the Illegal Trafficking of Dangerous Drugs
and/or Precursors and Essential Chemicals. – Every penalty imposed for the unlawful
importation, sale, trading, administration, dispensation, delivery, distribution, transportation or
manufacture of any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical, the
cultivation or culture of plants which are sources of dangerous drugs, and the possession of any
equipment, instrument, apparatus and other paraphernalia for dangerous drugs including other
laboratory equipment, shall carry with it the confiscation and forfeiture, in favor of the
government, of all the proceeds and properties derived from the unlawful act, including, but not
limited to, money and other assets obtained thereby, and the instruments or tools with which the
particular unlawful act was committed, unless they are the property of a third person not liable for
the unlawful act, but those which are not of lawful commerce shall be ordered destroyed without
delay pursuant to the provisions of Section 21 of this Act.
After conviction in the Regional Trial Court in the appropriate criminal case filed, the Court shall
immediately schedule a hearing for the confiscation and forfeiture of all the proceeds of the
offense and all the assets and properties of the accused either owned or held by him or in the
name of some other persons if the same shall be found to be manifestly out of proportion to
his/her lawful income: Provided, however, That if the forfeited property is a vehicle, the same
shall be auctioned off not later than five (5) days upon order of confiscation or forfeiture.
During the pendency of the case in the Regional Trial Court, no property, or income derived
therefrom, which may be confiscated and forfeited, shall be disposed, alienated or transferred
and the same shall be in custodia legis and no bond shall be admitted for the release of the
same.
The proceeds of any sale or disposition of any property confiscated or forfeited under this
Section shall be used to pay all proper expenses incurred in the proceedings for the confiscation,
forfeiture, custody and maintenance of the property pending disposition, as well as expenses for
publication and court costs. The proceeds in excess of the above expenses shall accrue to the
Board to be used in its campaign against illegal drugs.
(1) The apprehending team having initial custody and control of the drugs shall,
immediately after seizure and confiscation, physically inventory and photograph the same
in the presence of the accused or the person/s from whom such items were confiscated
and/or seized, or his/her representative or counsel, a representative from the media and
the Department of Justice (DOJ), and any elected public official who shall be required to
sign the copies of the inventory and be given a copy thereof;
(2) Within twenty-four (24) hours upon confiscation/seizure of dangerous drugs, plant
sources of dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, as well as
instruments/paraphernalia and/or laboratory equipment, the same shall be submitted to
the PDEA Forensic Laboratory for a qualitative and quantitative examination;
(3) A certification of the forensic laboratory examination results, which shall be done
under oath by the forensic laboratory examiner, shall be issued within twenty-four (24)
hours after the receipt of the subject item/s: Provided, That when the volume of the
dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, and controlled precursors and
essential chemicals does not allow the completion of testing within the time frame, a
partial laboratory examination report shall be provisionally issued stating therein the
quantities of dangerous drugs still to be examined by the forensic laboratory: Provided,
however, That a final certification shall be issued on the completed forensic laboratory
examination on the same within the next twenty-four (24) hours;
(4) After the filing of the criminal case, the Court shall, within seventy-two (72) hours,
conduct an ocular inspection of the confiscated, seized and/or surrendered dangerous
drugs, plant sources of dangerous drugs, and controlled precursors and essential
chemicals, including the instruments/paraphernalia and/or laboratory equipment, and
through the PDEA shall within twenty-four (24) hours thereafter proceed with the
destruction or burning of the same, in the presence of the accused or the person/s from
whom such items were confiscated and/or seized, or his/her representative or counsel, a
representative from the media and the DOJ, civil society groups and any elected public
official. The Board shall draw up the guidelines on the manner of proper disposition and
destruction of such item/s which shall be borne by the offender: Provided, That those
item/s of lawful commerce, as determined by the Board, shall be donated, used or
recycled for legitimate purposes: Provided, further, That a representative sample, duly
weighed and recorded is retained;
(5) The Board shall then issue a sworn certification as to the fact of destruction or burning
of the subject item/s which, together with the representative sample/s in the custody of
the PDEA, shall be submitted to the court having jurisdiction over the case. In all
instances, the representative sample/s shall be kept to a minimum quantity as
determined by the Board;
(7) After the promulgation and judgment in the criminal case wherein the representative
sample/s was presented as evidence in court, the trial prosecutor shall inform the Board
of the final termination of the case and, in turn, shall request the court for leave to turn
over the said representative sample/s to the PDEA for proper disposition and destruction
within twenty-four (24) hours from receipt of the same; and
(8) Transitory Provision: a) Within twenty-four (24) hours from the effectivity of this Act,
dangerous drugs defined herein which are presently in possession of law enforcement
agencies shall, with leave of court, be burned or destroyed, in the presence of
representatives of the Court, DOJ, Department of Health (DOH) and the accused/and or
his/her counsel, and, b) Pending the organization of the PDEA, the custody, disposition,
and burning or destruction of seized/surrendered dangerous drugs provided under this
Section shall be implemented by the DOH.
Section 22. Grant of Compensation, Reward and Award. – The Board shall recommend to the
concerned government agency the grant of compensation, reward and award to any person
providing information and to law enforcers participating in the operation, which results in the
successful confiscation, seizure or surrender of dangerous drugs, plant sources of dangerous
drugs, and controlled precursors and essential chemicals.
Section 23. Plea-Bargaining Provision. – Any person charged under any provision of this Act
regardless of the imposable penalty shall not be allowed to avail of the provision on plea-
bargaining.
Section 24. Non-Applicability of the Probation Law for Drug Traffickers and Pushers. – Any
person convicted for drug trafficking or pushing under this Act, regardless of the penalty imposed
by the Court, cannot avail of the privilege granted by the Probation Law or Presidential Decree
No. 968, as amended.
Section 26. Attempt or Conspiracy. – Any attempt or conspiracy to commit the following unlawful
acts shall be penalized by the same penalty prescribed for the commission of the same as
provided under this Act:
(a) Importation of any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential
chemical;
(c) Maintenance of a den, dive or resort where any dangerous drug is used in any form;
(d) Manufacture of any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential
chemical; and
Any elective local or national official found to have benefited from the proceeds of the trafficking
of dangerous drugs as prescribed in this Act, or have received any financial or material
contributions or donations from natural or juridical persons found guilty of trafficking dangerous
drugs as prescribed in this Act, shall be removed from office and perpetually disqualified from
holding any elective or appointive positions in the government, its divisions, subdivisions, and
intermediaries, including government-owned or –controlled corporations.
Section 28. Criminal Liability of Government Officials and Employees. – The maximum penalties
of the unlawful acts provided for in this Act shall be imposed, in addition to absolute perpetual
disqualification from any public office, if those found guilty of such unlawful acts are government
officials and employees.
Section 29. Criminal Liability for Planting of Evidence. – Any person who is found guilty of
"planting" any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical, regardless of
quantity and purity, shall suffer the penalty of death.
Section 32. Liability to a Person Violating Any Regulation Issued by the Board. – The penalty of
imprisonment ranging from six (6) months and one (1) day to four (4) years and a fine ranging
from Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) to Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) shall be imposed
upon any person found violating any regulation duly issued by the Board pursuant to this Act, in
addition to the administrative sanctions imposed by the Board.
(1) The information and testimony are necessary for the conviction of the persons
described above;
(2) Such information and testimony are not yet in the possession of the State;
(3) Such information and testimony can be corroborated on its material points;
(4) the informant or witness has not been previously convicted of a crime involving moral
turpitude, except when there is no other direct evidence available for the State other than
the information and testimony of said informant or witness; and
(5) The informant or witness shall strictly and faithfully comply without delay, any
condition or undertaking, reduced into writing, lawfully imposed by the State as further
consideration for the grant of immunity from prosecution and punishment.
Provided, further, That this immunity may be enjoyed by such informant or witness who does not
appear to be most guilty for the offense with reference to which his/her information or testimony
were given: Provided, finally, That there is no direct evidence available for the State except for
the information and testimony of the said informant or witness.
Section 34. Termination of the Grant of Immunity. – The immunity granted to the informant or
witness, as prescribed in Section 33 of this Act, shall not attach should it turn out subsequently
that the information and/or testimony is false, malicious or made only for the purpose of
harassing, molesting or in any way prejudicing the persons described in the preceding Section
against whom such information or testimony is directed against. In such case, the informant or
witness shall be subject to prosecution and the enjoyment of all rights and benefits previously
accorded him under this Act or any other law, decree or order shall be deemed terminated.
In case an informant or witness under this Act fails or refuses to testify without just cause, and
when lawfully obliged to do so, or should he/she violate any condition accompanying such
immunity as provided above, his/her immunity shall be removed and he/she shall likewise be
subject to contempt and/or criminal prosecution, as the case may be, and the enjoyment of all
rights and benefits previously accorded him under this Act or in any other law, decree or order
shall be deemed terminated.
In case the informant or witness referred to under this Act falls under the applicability of this
Section hereof, such individual cannot avail of the provisions under Article VIII of this Act.
Section 35. Accessory Penalties. – A person convicted under this Act shall be disqualified to
exercise his/her civil rights such as but not limited to, the rights of parental authority or
guardianship, either as to the person or property of any ward, the rights to dispose of such
property by any act or any conveyance inter vivos, and political rights such as but not limited to,
the right to vote and be voted for. Such rights shall also be suspended during the pendency of an
appeal from such conviction.
ARTICLE III
Section 36. Authorized Drug Testing. – Authorized drug testing shall be done by any
government forensic laboratories or by any of the drug testing laboratories accredited and
monitored by the DOH to safeguard the quality of test results. The DOH shall take steps in
setting the price of the drug test with DOH accredited drug testing centers to further reduce the
cost of such drug test. The drug testing shall employ, among others, two (2) testing methods, the
screening test which will determine the positive result as well as the type of the drug used and
the confirmatory test which will confirm a positive screening test. Drug test certificates issued by
accredited drug testing centers shall be valid for a one-year period from the date of issue which
may be used for other purposes. The following shall be subjected to undergo drug testing:
(a) Applicants for driver's license. – No driver's license shall be issued or renewed to any
person unless he/she presents a certification that he/she has undergone a mandatory
drug test and indicating thereon that he/she is free from the use of dangerous drugs;
(b) Applicants for firearm's license and for permit to carry firearms outside of residence. –
All applicants for firearm's license and permit to carry firearms outside of residence shall
undergo a mandatory drug test to ensure that they are free from the use of dangerous
drugs: Provided, That all persons who by the nature of their profession carry firearms
shall undergo drug testing;
(c) Students of secondary and tertiary schools. – Students of secondary and tertiary
schools shall, pursuant to the related rules and regulations as contained in the school's
student handbook and with notice to the parents, undergo a random drug
testing: Provided, That all drug testing expenses whether in public or private schools
under this Section will be borne by the government;
(d) Officers and employees of public and private offices. – Officers and employees of
public and private offices, whether domestic or overseas, shall be subjected to undergo a
random drug test as contained in the company's work rules and regulations, which shall
be borne by the employer, for purposes of reducing the risk in the workplace. Any officer
or employee found positive for use of dangerous drugs shall be dealt with
administratively which shall be a ground for suspension or termination, subject to the
provisions of Article 282 of the Labor Code and pertinent provisions of the Civil Service
Law;
(e) Officers and members of the military, police and other law enforcement agencies. –
Officers and members of the military, police and other law enforcement agencies shall
undergo an annual mandatory drug test;
(f) All persons charged before the prosecutor's office with a criminal offense having an
imposable penalty of imprisonment of not less than six (6) years and one (1) day shall
have to undergo a mandatory drug test; and
(g) All candidates for public office whether appointed or elected both in the national or
local government shall undergo a mandatory drug test.
In addition to the above stated penalties in this Section, those found to be positive for
dangerous drugs use shall be subject to the provisions of Section 15 of this Act.
Section 37. Issuance of False or Fraudulent Drug Test Results. – Any person authorized,
licensed or accredited under this Act and its implementing rules to conduct drug examination or
test, who issues false or fraudulent drug test results knowingly, willfully or through gross
negligence, shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment ranging from six (6) years and one (1) day to
twelve (12) years and a fine ranging from One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) to Five
hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00).
An additional penalty shall be imposed through the revocation of the license to practice his/her
profession in case of a practitioner, and the closure of the drug testing center.
Section 39. Accreditation of Drug Testing Centers and Physicians. – The DOH shall be tasked to
license and accredit drug testing centers in each province and city in order to assure their
capacity, competence, integrity and stability to conduct the laboratory examinations and tests
provided in this Article, and appoint such technical and other personnel as may be necessary for
the effective implementation of this provision. The DOH shall also accredit physicians who shall
conduct the drug dependency examination of a drug dependent as well as the after-care and
follow-up program for the said drug dependent. There shall be a control regulations, licensing
and accreditation division under the supervision of the DOH for this purpose.
For this purpose, the DOH shall establish, operate and maintain drug testing centers in
government hospitals, which must be provided at least with basic technologically advanced
equipment and materials, in order to conduct the laboratory examination and tests herein
provided, and appoint such qualified and duly trained technical and other personnel as may be
necessary for the effective implementation of this provision.
Section 40. Records Required for Transactions on Dangerous Drug and Precursors and
Essential Chemicals. –
(2) Name, address and license of the manufacturer, importer or wholesaler from
whom the dangerous drugs have been purchased;
(5) Name, address and community tax certificate number of the buyer;
(6) Serial number of the prescription and the name of the physician, dentist,
veterinarian or practitioner issuing the same;
(7) Quantity and name of the dangerous drugs sold or delivered; and
A certified true copy of such record covering a period of six (6) months, duly signed by
the pharmacist or the owner of the drugstore, pharmacy or chemical establishment, shall
be forwarded to the Board within fifteen (15) days following the last day of June and
December of each year, with a copy thereof furnished the city or municipal health officer
concerned.
For purposes of this Act, all prescriptions issued by physicians, dentists, veterinarians or
practitioners shall be written on forms exclusively issued by and obtainable from the
DOH. Such forms shall be made of a special kind of paper and shall be distributed in
such quantities and contain such information and other data as the DOH may, by rules
and regulations, require. Such forms shall only be issued by the DOH through its
authorized employees to licensed physicians, dentists, veterinarians and practitioners in
such quantities as the Board may authorize. In emergency cases, however, as the Board
may specify in the public interest, a prescription need not be accomplished on such
forms. The prescribing physician, dentist, veterinarian or practitioner shall, within three
(3) days after issuing such prescription, inform the DOH of the same in writing. No
prescription once served by the drugstore or pharmacy be reused nor any prescription
once issued be refilled.
ARTICLE IV
Participation of the Family, Students, Teachers and School Authorities in the Enforcement
of this Act
Section 41. Involvement of the Family. – The family being the basic unit of the Filipino society
shall be primarily responsible for the education and awareness of the members of the family on
the ill effects of dangerous drugs and close monitoring of family members who may be
susceptible to drug abuse.
Section 42. Student Councils and Campus Organizations. – All elementary, secondary and
tertiary schools' student councils and campus organizations shall include in their activities a
program for the prevention of and deterrence in the use of dangerous drugs, and referral for
treatment and rehabilitation of students for drug dependence.
Section 43. School Curricula. – Instruction on drug abuse prevention and control shall be
integrated in the elementary, secondary and tertiary curricula of all public and private schools,
whether general, technical, vocational or agro-industrial as well as in non-formal, informal and
indigenous learning systems. Such instructions shall include:
(1) Adverse effects of the abuse and misuse of dangerous drugs on the person, the
family, the school and the community;
(3) Health, socio-cultural, psychological, legal and economic dimensions and implications
of the drug problem;
(4) Steps to take when intervention on behalf of a drug dependent is needed, as well as
the services available for the treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependents; and
(5) Misconceptions about the use of dangerous drugs such as, but not limited to, the
importance and safety of dangerous drugs for medical and therapeutic use as well as the
differentiation between medical patients and drug dependents in order to avoid confusion
and accidental stigmatization in the consciousness of the students.
Section 44. Heads, Supervisors, and Teachers of Schools. – For the purpose of enforcing the
provisions of Article II of this Act, all school heads, supervisors and teachers shall be deemed
persons in authority and, as such, are hereby empowered to apprehend, arrest or cause the
apprehension or arrest of any person who shall violate any of the said provisions, pursuant to
Section 5, Rule 113 of the Rules of Court. They shall be deemed persons in authority if they are
in the school or within its immediate vicinity, or even beyond such immediate vicinity if they are in
attendance at any school or class function in their official capacity as school heads, supervisors,
and teachers.
Any teacher or school employee, who discovers or finds that any person in the school or within
its immediate vicinity is liable for violating any of said provisions, shall have the duty to report the
same to the school head or immediate superior who shall, in turn, report the matter to the proper
authorities.
Failure to do so in either case, within a reasonable period from the time of discovery of the
violation shall, after due hearing, constitute sufficient cause for disciplinary action by the school
authorities.
Section 45. Publication and Distribution of Materials on Dangerous Drugs. – With the assistance
of the Board, the Secretary of the Department of Education (DepEd), the Chairman of the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Director-General of the Technical Education
and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) shall cause the development, publication and
distribution of information and support educational materials on dangerous drugs to the students,
the faculty, the parents, and the community.
Section 46. Special Drug Education Center. – With the assistance of the Board, the Department
of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the National Youth Commission (NYC), and the
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) shall establish in each of its provincial
office a special education drug center for out-of-school youth and street children. Such Center
which shall be headed by the Provincial Social. Welfare Development Officer shall sponsor drug
prevention programs and activities and information campaigns with the end in view of educating
the out-of-school youth and street children regarding the pernicious effects of drug abuse. The
programs initiated by the Center shall likewise be adopted in all public and private orphanage
and existing special centers for street children.
ARTICLE V
Section 48. Guidelines for the National Drug-Free Workplace Program. – The Board and the
DOLE shall formulate the necessary guidelines for the implementation of the national drug-free
workplace program. The amount necessary for the implementation of which shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act.
ARTICLE VI
Participation of the Private and Labor Sectors in the Enforcement of this Act
Section 49. Labor Organizations and the Private Sector. – All labor unions, federations,
associations, or organizations in cooperation with the respective private sector partners shall
include in their collective bargaining or any similar agreements, joint continuing programs and
information campaigns for the laborers similar to the programs provided under Section 47 of this
Act with the end in view of achieving a drug free workplace.
Section 50. Government Assistance. – The labor sector and the respective partners may, in
pursuit of the programs mentioned in the preceding Section, secure the technical assistance,
such as but not limited to, seminars and information dissemination campaigns of the appropriate
government and law enforcement agencies.
ARTICLE VII
Section 51. Local Government Units' Assistance. – Local government units shall appropriate a
substantial portion of their respective annual budgets to assist in or enhance the enforcement of
this Act giving priority to preventive or educational programs and the rehabilitation or treatment of
drug dependents.
Section 52. Abatement of Drug Related Public Nuisances. – Any place or premises which have
been used on two or more occasions as the site of the unlawful sale or delivery of dangerous
drugs may be declared to be a public nuisance, and such nuisance may be abated, pursuant to
the following procedures:
(1) Any city or municipality may, by ordinance, create an administrative board to hear
complaints regarding the nuisances;
(2) any employee, officer, or resident of the city or municipality may bring a complaint
before the Board after giving not less than three (3) days written notice of such complaint
to the owner of the place or premises at his/her last known address; and
(3) After hearing in which the Board may consider any evidence, including evidence of
the general reputation of the place or premises, and at which the owner of the premises
shall have an opportunity to present evidence in his/her defense, the Board may declare
the place or premises to be a public nuisance.
An order entered under this Section shall expire after one (1) year or at such earlier time as
stated in the order. The Board may bring a complaint seeking a permanent injunction against any
nuisance described under this Section.
This Article does not restrict the right of any person to proceed under the Civil Code against any
public nuisance.
ARTICLE VIII
Section 55. Exemption from the Criminal Liability Under the Voluntary Submission Program. A
drug dependent under the voluntary submission program, who is finally discharged from
confinement, shall be exempt from the criminal liability under Section 15 of this act subject to the
following conditions:
(1) He/she has complied with the rules and regulations of the center, the applicable rules
and regulations of the Board, including the after-care and follow-up program for at least
eighteen (18) months following temporary discharge from confinement in the Center or, in
the case of a dependent placed under the care of the DOH-accredited physician, the
after-care program and follow-up schedule formulated by the DSWD and approved by the
Board: Provided, That capability-building of local government social workers shall be
undertaken by the DSWD;
(2) He/she has never been charged or convicted of any offense punishable under this
Act, the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972 or Republic Act No. 6425, as amended; the
Revised Penal Code, as amended; or any special penal laws;
(3) He/she has no record of escape from a Center: Provided, That had he/she escaped,
he/she surrendered by himself/herself or through his/her parent, spouse, guardian or
relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, within one (1) week from the
date of the said escape; and
(4) He/she poses no serious danger to himself/herself, his/her family or the community by
his/her exemption from criminal liability.
Section 56. Temporary Release From the Center; After-Care and Follow-Up Treatment Under
the Voluntary Submission Program. – Upon certification of the Center that the drug dependent
within the voluntary submission program may be temporarily released, the Court shall order
his/her release on condition that said drug dependent shall report to the DOH for after-care and
follow-up treatment, including urine testing, for a period not exceeding eighteen (18) months
under such terms and conditions that the Court may impose.
If during the period of after-care and follow-up, the drug dependent is certified to be rehabilitated,
he/she may be discharged by the Court, subject to the provisions of Section 55 of this Act,
without prejudice to the outcome of any pending case filed in court.
However, should the DOH find that during the initial after-care and follow-up program of eighteen
(18) months, the drug dependent requires further treatment and rehabilitation in the Center,
he/she shall be recommitted to the Center for confinement. Thereafter, he/she may again be
certified for temporary release and ordered released for another after-care and follow-up program
pursuant to this Section.
Section 57. Probation and Community Service Under the Voluntary Submission Program. – A
drug dependent who is discharged as rehabilitated by the DOH-accredited Center through the
voluntary submission program, but does not qualify for exemption from criminal liability under
Section 55 of this Act, may be charged under the provisions of this Act, but shall be placed on
probation and undergo a community service in lieu of imprisonment and/or fine in the discretion
of the court, without prejudice to the outcome of any pending case filed in court.
Such drug dependent shall undergo community service as part of his/her after-care and follow-up
program, which may be done in coordination with nongovernmental civil organizations accredited
by the DSWD, with the recommendation of the Board.
Section 58. Filing of Charges Against a Drug Dependent Who is Not Rehabilitated Under the
Voluntary Submission Program. – A drug dependent, who is not rehabilitated after the second
commitment to the Center under the voluntary submission program, shall, upon recommendation
of the Board, be charged for violation of Section 15 of this Act and prosecuted like any other
offender. If convicted, he/she shall be credited for the period of confinement and rehabilitation in
the Center in the service of his/her sentence.
Section 59. Escape and Recommitment for Confinement and Rehabilitation Under the Voluntary
Submission Program. – Should a drug dependent under the voluntary submission program
escape from the Center, he/she may submit himself/herself for recommitment within one (1)
week therefrom, or his/her parent, spouse, guardian or relative within the fourth degree of
consanguinity or affinity may, within said period, surrender him for recommitment, in which case
the corresponding order shall be issued by the Board.
Should the escapee fail to submit himself/herself or be surrendered after one (1) week, the Board
shall apply to the court for a recommitment order upon proof of previous commitment or his/her
voluntary submission by the Board, the court may issue an order for recommitment within one (1)
week.
If, subsequent to a recommitment, the dependent once again escapes from confinement, he/she
shall be charged for violation of Section 15 of this Act and he subjected under section 61 of this
Act, either upon order of the Board or upon order of the court, as the case may be.
Section 60. Confidentiality of Records Under the Voluntary Submission Program. – Judicial and
medical records of drug dependents under the voluntary submission program shall be
confidential and shall not be used against him for any purpose, except to determine how many
times, by himself/herself or through his/her parent, spouse, guardian or relative within the fourth
degree of consanguinity or affinity, he/she voluntarily submitted himself/herself for confinement,
treatment and rehabilitation or has been committed to a Center under this program.
Section 61. Compulsory Confinement of a Drug Dependent Who Refuses to Apply Under the
Voluntary Submission Program. – Notwithstanding any law, rule and regulation to the contrary,
any person determined and found to be dependent on dangerous drugs shall, upon petition by
the Board or any of its authorized representative, be confined for treatment and rehabilitation in
any Center duly designated or accredited for the purpose.
After the petition is filed, the court, by an order, shall immediately fix a date for the hearing, and a
copy of such order shall be served on the person alleged to be dependent on dangerous drugs,
and to the one having charge of him.
If after such hearing and the facts so warrant, the court shall order the drug dependent to be
examined by two (2) physicians accredited by the Board. If both physicians conclude that the
respondent is not a drug dependent, the court shall order his/her discharge. If either physician
finds him to be a dependent, the court shall conduct a hearing and consider all relevant evidence
which may be offered. If the court finds him a drug dependent, it shall issue an order for his/her
commitment to a treatment and rehabilitation center under the supervision of the DOH. In any
event, the order of discharge or order of confinement or commitment shall be issued not later
than fifteen (15) days from the filing of the appropriate petition.
Section 62. Compulsory Submission of a Drug Dependent Charged with an Offense to
Treatment and Rehabilitation. – If a person charged with an offense where the imposable penalty
is imprisonment of less than six (6) years and one (1) day, and is found by the prosecutor or by
the court, at any stage of the proceedings, to be a drug dependent, the prosecutor or the court as
the case may be, shall suspend all further proceedings and transmit copies of the record of the
case to the Board.
In the event he Board determines, after medical examination, that public interest requires that
such drug dependent be committed to a center for treatment and rehabilitation, it shall file a
petition for his/her commitment with the regional trial court of the province or city where he/she is
being investigated or tried: Provided, That where a criminal case is pending in court, such
petition shall be filed in the said court. The court shall take judicial notice of the prior proceedings
in the case and shall proceed to hear the petition. If the court finds him to be a drug dependent, it
shall order his/her commitment to a Center for treatment and rehabilitation. The head of said
Center shall submit to the court every four (4) months, or as often as the court may require, a
written report on the progress of the treatment. If the dependent is rehabilitated, as certified by
the center and the Board, he/she shall be returned to the court, which committed him, for his/her
discharge therefrom.
Thereafter, his/her prosecution for any offense punishable by law shall be instituted or shall
continue, as the case may be. In case of conviction, the judgment shall, if the accused is certified
by the treatment and rehabilitation center to have maintained good behavior, indicate that he/she
shall be given full credit for the period he/she was confined in the Center: Provided, however,
That when the offense is for violation of Section 15 of this Act and the accused is not a recidivist,
the penalty thereof shall be deemed to have been served in the Center upon his/her release
therefrom after certification by the Center and the Board that he/she is rehabilitated.
Section 63. Prescription of the Offense Charged Against a Drug Dependent Under the
Compulsory Submission Program. – The period of prescription of the offense charged against a
drug dependent under the compulsory submission program shall not run during the time that the
drug dependent is under confinement in a Center or otherwise under the treatment and
rehabilitation program approved by the Board.
Upon certification of the Center that he/she may temporarily be discharged from the said Center,
the court shall order his/her release on condition that he/she shall report to the Board through the
DOH for after-care and follow-up treatment for a period not exceeding eighteen (18) months
under such terms and conditions as may be imposed by the Board.
If at anytime during the after-care and follow-up period, the Board certifies to his/her complete
rehabilitation, the court shall order his/her final discharge from confinement and order for the
immediate resumption of the trial of the case for which he/she is originally charged. Should the
Board through the DOH find at anytime during the after-care and follow-up period that he/she
requires further treatment and rehabilitation, it shall report to the court, which shall order his/her
recommitment to the Center.
Should the drug dependent, having been committed to a Center upon petition by the Board
escape therefrom, he/she may resubmit himself/herself for confinement within one (1) week from
the date of his/her escape; or his/her parent, spouse, guardian or relative within the fourth
degree of consanguinity or affinity may, within the same period, surrender him for recommitment.
If, however, the drug dependent does not resubmit himself/herself for confinement or he/she is
not surrendered for recommitment, the Board may apply with the court for the issuance of the
recommitment order. Upon proof of previous commitment, the court shall issue an order for
recommitment. If, subsequent to such recommitment, he/she should escape again, he/she shall
no longer be exempt from criminal liability for use of any dangerous drug.
A drug dependent committed under this particular Section who is finally discharged from
confinement shall be exempt from criminal liability under Section 15 of this Act, without prejudice
to the outcome of any pending case filed in court. On the other hand, a drug dependent who is
not rehabilitated after a second commitment to the Center shall, upon conviction by the
appropriate court, suffer the same penalties provided for under Section 15 of this Act again
without prejudice to the outcome of any pending case filed in court.
Section 65. Duty of the Prosecutor in the Proceedings. – It shall be the duty of the provincial or
the city prosecutor or their assistants or state prosecutors to prepare the appropriate petition in
all proceedings arising from this Act.
(a) He/she has not been previously convicted of violating any provision of this Act, or of
the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972, as amended; or of the Revised Penal Code; or of any
special penal laws;
(b) He/she has not been previously committed to a Center or to the care of a DOH-
accredited physician; and
While under suspended sentence, he/she shall be under the supervision and rehabilitative
surveillance of the Board, under such conditions that the court may impose for a period ranging
from six (6) months to eighteen (18) months.
Upon recommendation of the Board, the court may commit the accused under suspended
sentence to a Center, or to the care of a DOH-accredited physician for at least six (6) months,
with after-care and follow-up program for not more than eighteen (18) months.
In the case of minors under fifteen (15) years of age at the time of the commission of any offense
penalized under this Act, Article 192 of Presidential Decree No. 603, otherwise known as the
Child and Youth Welfare Code, as amended by Presidential Decree No. 1179 shall apply, without
prejudice to the application of the provisions of this Section.
Upon the dismissal of the proceedings against the accused, the court shall enter an order to
expunge all official records, other than the confidential record to be retained by the DOJ relating
to the case. Such an order, which shall be kept confidential, shall restore the accused to his/her
status prior to the case. He/she shall not be held thereafter to be guilty of perjury or of
concealment or misrepresentation by reason of his/her failure to acknowledge the case or recite
any fact related thereto in response to any inquiry made of him for any purpose.
Section 69. Promulgation of Sentence for First-Time Minor Offender. – If the accused first-time
minor offender violates any of the conditions of his/her suspended sentence, the applicable rules
and regulations of the Board exercising supervision and rehabilitative surveillance over him,
including the rules and regulations of the Center should confinement be required, the court shall
pronounce judgment of conviction and he/she shall serve sentence as any other convicted
person.
The community service shall be complied with under conditions, time and place as may be
determined by the court in its discretion and upon the recommendation of the Board and shall
apply only to violators of Section 15 of this Act. The completion of the community service shall be
under the supervision and rehabilitative surveillance of the Board during the period required by
the court. Thereafter, the Board shall render a report on the manner of compliance of said
community service. The court in its discretion may require extension of the community service or
order a final discharge.
In both cases, the judicial records shall be covered by the provisions of Sections 60 and 64 of
this Act.
If the sentence promulgated by the court requires imprisonment, the period spent in the Center
by the accused during the suspended sentence period shall be deducted from the sentence to be
served.
Section 71. Records to be kept by the Department of Justice. – The DOJ shall keep a
confidential record of the proceedings on suspension of sentence and shall not be used for any
purpose other than to determine whether or not a person accused under this Act is a first-time
minor offender.
Section 72. Liability of a Person Who Violates the Confidentiality of Records. – The penalty of
imprisonment ranging from six (6) months and one (1) day to six (6) years and a fine ranging
from One thousand pesos (P1,000.00) to Six thousand pesos (P6,000.00), shall be imposed
upon any person who, having official custody of or access to the confidential records of any drug
dependent under voluntary submission programs, or anyone who, having gained possession of
said records, whether lawfully or not, reveals their content to any person other than those
charged with the prosecution of the offenses under this Act and its implementation. The
maximum penalty shall be imposed, in addition to absolute perpetual disqualification from any
public office, when the offender is a government official or employee. Should the records be used
for unlawful purposes, such as blackmail of the drug dependent or the members of his/her family,
the penalty imposed for the crime of violation of confidentiality shall be in addition to whatever
crime he/she may be convicted of.
Section 73. Liability of a Parent, Spouse or Guardian Who Refuses to Cooperate with the Board
or any Concerned Agency. – Any parent, spouse or guardian who, without valid reason, refuses
to cooperate with the Board or any concerned agency in the treatment and rehabilitation of a
drug dependent who is a minor, or in any manner, prevents or delays the after-care, follow-up or
other programs for the welfare of the accused drug dependent, whether under voluntary
submission program or compulsory submission program, may be cited for contempt by the court.
Section 75. Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers. – The existing treatment and rehabilitation
centers for drug dependents operated and maintained by the NBI and the PNP shall be
operated, maintained and managed by the DOH in coordination with other concerned agencies.
For the purpose of enlarging the network of centers, the Board through the DOH shall
encourage, promote or whenever feasible, assist or support in the establishment, operations and
maintenance of private centers which shall be eligible to receive grants, donations or subsidy
from either government or private sources. It shall also support the establishment of government-
operated regional treatment and rehabilitation centers depending upon the availability of funds.
The national government, through its appropriate agencies shall give priority funding for the
increase of subsidy to existing government drug rehabilitation centers, and shall establish at least
one (1) drug rehabilitation center in each province, depending on the availability of funds.
Section 76. The Duties and Responsibilities of the Department of health (DOH) Under this Act.
– The DOH shall:
(1) Oversee the monitor the integration, coordination and supervision of all drug
rehabilitation, intervention, after-care and follow-up programs, projects and activities as
well as the establishment, operations, maintenance and management of privately-owned
drug treatment rehabilitation centers and drug testing networks and laboratories
throughout the country in coordination with the DSWD and other agencies;
(2) License, accredit, establish and maintain drug test network and laboratory, initiate,
conduct and support scientific research on drugs and drug control;
(3) Encourage, assist and accredit private centers, promulgate rules and regulations
setting minimum standards for their accreditation to assure their competence, integrity
and stability;
(4) Prescribe and promulgate rules and regulations governing the establishment of such
Centers as it may deem necessary after conducting a feasibility study thereof;
(5) The DOH shall, without prejudice to the criminal prosecution of those found guilty of
violating this Act, order the closure of a Center for treatment and rehabilitation of drug
dependency when, after investigation it is found guilty of violating the provisions of this
Act or regulations issued by the Board; and
(6) Charge reasonable fees for drug dependency examinations, other medical and legal
services provided to the public, which shall accrue to the Board. All income derived from
these sources shall be part of the funds constituted as special funds for the
implementation of this Act under Section 87.
ARTICLE IX
Section 77. The Dangerous Drugs Board. – The Board shall be the policy-making and strategy-
formulating body in the planning and formulation of policies and programs on drug prevention
and control. It shall develop and adopt a comprehensive, integrated, unified and balanced
national drug abuse prevention and control strategy. It shall be under the Office of the President.
Section 78. Composition of the Board. – The Board shall be composed of seventeen (17)
members wherein three (3) of which are permanent members, the other twelve (12) members
shall be in an ex officio capacity and the two (2) shall be regular members.
The three (3) permanent members, who shall possess at least seven-year training and
experience in the field of dangerous drugs and in any of the following fields: in law, medicine,
criminology, psychology or social work, shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines.
The President shall designate a Chairman, who shall have the rank of a secretary from among
the three (3) permanent members who shall serve for six (6) years. Of the two (2) other
members, who shall both have the rank of undersecretary, one (1) shall serve for four (4) years
and the other for two (2) years. Thereafter, the persons appointed to succeed such members
shall hold office for a term of six (6) years and until their successors shall have been duly
appointed and qualified.
The other twelve (12) members who shall be ex officio members of the Board are the following:
(6) Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government or his/her
representative;
Cabinet secretaries who are members of the Board may designate their duly authorized and
permanent representatives whose ranks shall in no case be lower than undersecretary.
The Director of the NBI and the Chief of the PNP shall be the permanent consultants of the
Board, and shall attend all the meetings of the Board.
All members of the Board as well as its permanent consultants shall receive a per diem for every
meeting actually attended subject to the pertinent budgetary laws, rules and regulations on
compensation, honoraria and allowances: Provided, That where the representative of an ex
officio member or of the permanent consultant of the Board attends a meeting in behalf of the
latter, such representative shall be entitled to receive the per diem.
Section 79. Meetings of the Board. – The Board shall meet once a week or as often as
necessary at the discretion of the Chairman or at the call of any four (4) other members. The
presence of nine (9) members shall constitute a quorum.
Section 80. Secretariat of the Board. – The Board shall recommend to the President of the
Philippines the appointment of an Executive Director, with the rank of an undersecretary, who
shall be the Secretary of the Board and administrative officer of its secretariat, and shall perform
such other duties that may be assigned to him/her. He/she must possess adequate knowledge,
training and experience in the field of dangerous drugs, and in any of the following fields: law
enforcement, law, medicine, criminology, psychology or social work.
Two deputies executive director, for administration and operations, with the ranks of assistant
secretary, shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation of the Board. They shall
possess the same qualifications as those of the executive director. They shall receive a salary
corresponding to their position as prescribed by the Salary Standardization Law as a Career
Service Officer.
The existing secretariat of the Board shall be under the administrative control and supervision of
the Executive Director. It shall be composed of the following divisions, namely: Policy Studies,
Research and Statistics; Preventive Education, Training and Information; Legal Affairs; and the
Administrative and Financial Management.
(a) Formulate, develop and establish a comprehensive, integrated, unified and balanced
national drug use prevention and control strategy;
(b) Promulgate such rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the
purposes of this Act, including the manner of safekeeping, disposition, burning or
condemnation of any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical
under its charge and custody, and prescribe administrative remedies or sanctions for the
violations of such rules and regulations;
(c) Conduct policy studies, program monitoring and evaluations and other researches on
drug prevention, control and enforcement;
(d) Initiate, conduct and support scientific, clinical, social, psychological, physical and
biological researches on dangerous drugs and dangerous drugs prevention and control
measures;
(e) Develop an educational program and information drive on the hazards and prevention
of illegal use of any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical
based on factual data, and disseminate the same to the general public, for which purpose
the Board shall endeavor to make the general public aware of the hazards of any
dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical by providing among
others, literature, films, displays or advertisements and by coordinating with all
institutions of learning as well as with all national and local enforcement agencies in
planning and conducting its educational campaign programs to be implemented by the
appropriate government agencies;
(f) Conduct continuing seminars for, and consultations with, and provide information
materials to judges and prosecutors in coordination with the Office of the Court
Administrator, in the case of judges, and the DOJ, in the case of prosecutors, which aim
to provide them with the current developments and programs of the Board pertinent to its
campaign against dangerous drugs and its scientific researches on dangerous drugs, its
prevention and control measures;
(g) Design special trainings in order to provide law enforcement officers, members of the
judiciary, and prosecutors, school authorities and personnel of centers with knowledge
and know-how in dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals
control in coordination with the Supreme Court to meet the objectives of the national drug
control programs;
(h) Design and develop, in consultation and coordination with the DOH, DSWD and other
agencies involved in drugs control, treatment and rehabilitation, both public and private, a
national treatment and rehabilitation program for drug dependents including a standard
aftercare and community service program for recovering drug dependents;
(i) Design and develop, jointly with the DOLE and in consultation with labor and employer
groups as well as nongovernment organizations a drug abuse prevention program in the
workplace that would include a provision for employee assistance programs for
emotionally-stressed employees;
(j) Initiate and authorize closure proceedings against non-accredited and/or substandard
rehabilitation centers based on verified reports of human rights violations, subhuman
conditions, inadequate medical training and assistance and excessive fees for
implementation by the PDEA;
(k) Prescribe and promulgate rules and regulations governing the establishment of such
centers, networks and laboratories as deemed necessary after conducting a feasibility
study in coordination with the DOH and other government agencies;
(l) Receive, gather, collect and evaluate all information on the importation, exportation,
production, manufacture, sale, stocks, seizures of and the estimated need for any
dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical, for which purpose
the Board may require from any official, instrumentality or agency of the government or
any private person or enterprise dealing in, or engaged in activities having to do with any
dangerous drug and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals such data or
information as it may need to implement this Act;
(m) Gather and prepare detailed statistics on the importation, exportation, manufacture,
stocks, seizures of and estimates need for any dangerous drug and/or controlled
precursors and essential chemicals and such other statistical data on said drugs as may
be periodically required by the United Nations Narcotics Drug Commission, the World
Health Organization and other international organizations in consonance with the
country's international commitments;
(n) Develop and maintain international networking coordination with international drug
control agencies and organizations, and implement the provisions of international
conventions and agreements thereon which have been adopted and approved by the
Congress of the Philippines;
(o) Require all government and private hospitals, clinics, doctors, dentists and other
practitioners to submit a report to it, in coordination with the PDEA, about all dangerous
drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals-related cases to which they
have attended for statistics and research purposes;
(p) Receive in trust legacies, gifts and donations of real and personal properties of all
kinds, to administer and dispose the same when necessary for the benefit of government
and private rehabilitation centers subject to limitations, directions and instructions from
the donors, if any;
(r) Formulate guidelines, in coordination with other government agencies, the importation,
distribution, production, manufacture, compounding, prescription, dispensing and sale of,
and other lawful acts in connection with any dangerous drug, controlled precursors and
essential chemicals and other similar or analogous substances of such kind and in such
quantity as it may deem necessary according to the medical and research needs or
requirements of the country including diet pills containing ephedrine and other addictive
chemicals and determine the quantity and/or quality of dangerous drugs and controlled
precursors and essential chemicals to be imported, manufactured and held in stock at
any given time by authorized importer, manufacturer or distributor of such drugs;
(t) Recommend the revocation of the professional license of any practitioner who is an
owner, co-owner, lessee, or in the employ of the drug establishment, or manager of a
partnership, corporation, association, or any juridical entity owning and/or controlling
such drug establishment, and who knowingly participates in, or consents to, tolerates, or
abets the commission of the act of violations as indicated in the preceding paragraph, all
without prejudice to the criminal prosecution of the person responsible for the said
violation;
(u) Appoint such technical, administrative and other personnel as may be necessary for
the effective implementation of this Act, subject to the Civil Service Law and its rules and
regulations;
(v) Establish a regular and continuing consultation with concerned government agencies
and medical professional organizations to determine if balance exists in policies,
procedures, rules and regulations on dangerous drugs and to provide recommendations
on how the lawful use of dangerous drugs can be improved and facilitated; and
(w) Submit an annual and periodic reports to the President, the Congress of the
Philippines and the Senate and House of Representatives committees concerned as may
be required from time to time, and perform such other functions as may be authorized or
required under existing laws and as directed by the President himself/herself or as
recommended by the congressional committees concerned.
Section 82. Creation of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). – To carry out the
provisions of this Act, the PDEA, which serves as the implementing arm of the Board, and shall
be responsible for the efficient and effective law enforcement of all the provisions on any
dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical as provided in this Act.
The PDEA shall be headed by a Director General with the rank of Undersecretary, who shall be
responsible for the general administration and management of the Agency. The Director General
of the PDEA shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines and shall perform such other
duties that may be assigned to him/her. He/she must possess adequate knowledge, training and
experience in the field of dangerous drugs, and in any of the following fields: law enforcement,
law, medicine, criminology, psychology or social work.
The Director General of the PDEA shall be assisted in the performance of his/her duties and
responsibilities by two (2) deputies director general with the rank of Assistant Secretary; one for
Operations and the other one for Administration. The two (2) deputies director general shall
likewise be appointed by the President of the Philippines upon recommendation of the Board.
The two (2) deputies director general shall possess the same qualifications as those of the
Director General of the PDEA. The Director General and the two (2) deputies director general
shall receive the compensation and salaries as prescribed by law.
Section 83. Organization of the PDEA. – The present Secretariat of the National Drug Law
Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center as created by Executive Order No. 61 shall be
accordingly modified and absorbed by the PDEA.
The Director General of the PDEA shall be responsible for the necessary changes in the
organizational set-up which shall be submitted to the Board for approval.
For purposes of carrying out its duties and powers as provided for in the succeeding Section of
this Act, the PDEA shall have the following Services, namely: Intelligence and Investigation;
International Cooperation and Foreign Affairs; Preventive Education and Community
Involvement; Plans and Operations; Compliance; Legal and Prosecution; Administrative and
Human Resource; Financial Management; Logistics Management; and Internal Affairs.
The PDEA shall establish and maintain regional offices in the different regions of the country
which shall be responsible for the implementation of this Act and the policies, programs, and
projects of said agency in their respective regions.
(a) Implement or cause the efficient and effective implementation of the national drug
control strategy formulated by the Board thereby carrying out a national drug campaign
program which shall include drug law enforcement, control and prevention campaign with
the assistance of concerned government agencies;
(b) Undertake the enforcement of the provisions of Article II of this Act relative to the
unlawful acts and penalties involving any dangerous drug and/or controlled precursor and
essential chemical and investigate all violators and other matters involved in the
commission of any crime relative to the use, abuse or trafficking of any dangerous drug
and/or controlled precursor and essential chemical as provided for in this Act and the
provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1619;
(d) Arrest and apprehend as well as search all violators and seize or confiscate, the
effects or proceeds of the crimes as provided by law and take custody thereof, for this
purpose the prosecutors and enforcement agents are authorized to possess firearms, in
accordance with existing laws;
(e) Take charge and have custody of all dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors
and essential chemicals seized, confiscated or surrendered to any national, provincial or
local law enforcement agency, if no longer needed for purposes of evidence in court;
(f) Establish forensic laboratories in each PNP office in every province and city in order to
facilitate action on seize or confiscated drugs, thereby hastening its destruction without
delay;
(g) Recommend to the DOJ the forfeiture of properties and other assets of persons
and/or corporations found to be violating the provisions of this Act and in accordance with
the pertinent provisions of the Anti-Money-Laundering Act of 2001;
(h) Prepare for prosecution or cause the filing of appropriate criminal and civil cases for
violation of all laws on dangerous drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals,
and other similar controlled substances, and assist, support and coordinate with other
government agencies for the proper and effective prosecution of the same;
(i) Monitor and if warranted by circumstances, in coordination with the Philippine Postal
Office and the Bureau of Customs, inspect all air cargo packages, parcels and mails in
the central post office, which appear from the package and address itself to be a possible
importation of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals,
through on-line or cyber shops via the internet or cyberspace;
(j) Conduct eradication programs to destroy wild or illegal growth of plants from which
dangerous drugs may be extracted;
(k) Initiate and undertake the formation of a nationwide organization which shall
coordinate and supervise all activities against drug abuse in every province, city,
municipality and barangay with the active and direct participation of all such local
government units and nongovernmental organizations, including the citizenry, subject to
the provisions of previously formulated programs of action against dangerous drugs;
(l) Establish and maintain a national drug intelligence system in cooperation with law
enforcement agencies, other government agencies/offices and local government units
that will assist in its apprehension of big-time drug lords;
(m) Establish and maintain close coordination, cooperation and linkages with
international drug control and administration agencies and organizations, and implement
the applicable provisions of international conventions and agreements related to
dangerous drugs to which the Philippines is a signatory;
(n) Create and maintain an efficient special enforcement unit to conduct an investigation,
file charges and transmit evidence to the proper court, wherein members of the said unit
shall possess suitable and adequate firearms for their protection in connection with the
performance of their duties: Provided, That no previous special permit for such
possession shall be required;
(o) Require all government and private hospitals, clinics, doctors, dentists and other
practitioners to submit a report to it, in coordination with the Board, about all dangerous
drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals which they have attended to
for data and information purposes;
(p) Coordinate with the Board for the facilitation of the issuance of necessary guidelines,
rules and regulations for the proper implementation of this Act;
(q) Initiate and undertake a national campaign for drug prevention and drug control
programs, where it may enlist the assistance of any department, bureau, office, agency
or instrumentality of the government, including government-owned and or –controlled
corporations, in the anti-illegal drugs drive, which may include the use of their respective
personnel, facilities, and resources for a more resolute detection and investigation of
drug-related crimes and prosecution of the drug traffickers; and
(r) Submit an annual and periodic reports to the Board as may be required from time to
time, and perform such other functions as may be authorized or required under existing
laws and as directed by the President himself/herself or as recommended by the
congressional committees concerned.
Section 85. The PDEA Academy. – Upon the approval of the Board, the PDEA Academy shall
be established either in Baguio or Tagaytay City, and in such other places as may be necessary.
The PDEA Academy shall be responsible in the recruitment and training of all PDEA agents and
personnel. The Board shall provide for the qualifications and requirements of its recruits who
must be at least twenty-one (21) years old, of proven integrity and honesty and a Baccalaureate
degree holder.
The graduates of the Academy shall later comprise the operating units of the PDEA after the
termination of the transition period of five (5) years during which all the intelligence network and
standard operating procedures of the PDEA has been set up and operationalized.
The Academy shall be headed by a Superintendent, with the rank of Director. He/she shall be
appointed by the PDEA Director General.
Section 86. Transfer, Absorption, and Integration of All Operating Units on Illegal Drugs into the
PDEA and Transitory Provisions. – The Narcotics Group of the PNP, the Narcotics Division of the
NBI and the Customs Narcotics Interdiction Unit are hereby abolished; however they shall
continue with the performance of their task as detail service with the PDEA, subject to screening,
until such time that the organizational structure of the Agency is fully operational and the number
of graduates of the PDEA Academy is sufficient to do the task themselves: Provided, That such
personnel who are affected shall have the option of either being integrated into the PDEA or
remain with their original mother agencies and shall, thereafter, be immediately reassigned to
other units therein by the head of such agencies. Such personnel who are transferred, absorbed
and integrated in the PDEA shall be extended appointments to positions similar in rank, salary,
and other emoluments and privileges granted to their respective positions in their original mother
agencies.
The transfer, absorption and integration of the different offices and units provided for in this
Section shall take effect within eighteen (18) months from the effectivity of this Act: Provided,
That personnel absorbed and on detail service shall be given until five (5) years to finally decide
to join the PDEA.
Nothing in this Act shall mean a diminution of the investigative powers of the NBI and the PNP on
all other crimes as provided for in their respective organic laws: Provided, however, That when
the investigation being conducted by the NBI, PNP or any ad hoc anti-drug task force is found to
be a violation of any of the provisions of this Act, the PDEA shall be the lead agency. The NBI,
PNP or any of the task force shall immediately transfer the same to the PDEA: Provided, further,
That the NBI, PNP and the Bureau of Customs shall maintain close coordination with the PDEA
on all drug related matters.
ARTICLE X
Section 87. Appropriations. – The amount necessary for the operation of the Board and the
PDEA shall be charged against the current year's appropriations of the Board, the National Drug
Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center, the Narcotics Group of the PNP, the
Narcotics Division of the NBI and other drug abuse units of the different law enforcement
agencies integrated into the PDEA in order to carry out the provisions of this Act. Thereafter,
such sums as may be necessary for the continued implementation of this Act shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act.
All receipts derived from fines, fees and other income authorized and imposed in this Act,
including ten percent (10%) of all unclaimed and forfeited sweepstakes and lotto prizes but not
less than twelve million pesos (P12,000,000.00) per year from the Philippine Charity
Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), are hereby constituted as a special account in the general fund for
the implementation of this Act: Provided, That no amount shall be disbursed to cover the
operating expenses of the Board and other concerned agencies: Provided, further, That at least
fifty percent (50%) of all the funds shall be reserved for assistance to government-owned and/or
operated rehabilitation centers.
The fines shall be remitted to the Board by the court imposing such fines within thirty (30) days
from the finality of its decisions or orders. The unclaimed and forfeited prizes shall be turned over
to the Board by the PCSO within thirty (30) days after these are collected and declared forfeited.
A portion of the funds generated by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation
(PAGCOR) in the amount of Five million pesos (P5,000,000.00) a month shall be set aside for
the purpose of establishing adequate drug rehabilitation centers in the country and also for the
maintenance and operations of such centers: Provided, That the said amount shall be taken from
the fifty percent (50%) share of the National Government in the income of
PAGCOR: Provided, further, That the said amount shall automatically be remitted by PAGCOR
to the Board. The amount shall, in turn, be disbursed by the Dangerous Drugs Board, subject to
the rules and regulations of the Commission on Audit (COA).
The fund may be augmented by grants, donations, and endowment from various sources,
domestic or foreign, for purposes related to their functions, subject to the existing guidelines set
by the government.
Section 88. Management of Funds Under this Act; Annual Report by the Board and the PDEA. –
The Board shall manage the funds as it may deem proper for the attainment of the objectives of
this Act. In addition to the periodic reports as may be required under this Act, the Chairman of the
Board shall submit to the President of the Philippines and to the presiding officers of both houses
of Congress, within fifteen (15) days from the opening of the regular session, an annual report on
the dangerous drugs situation in the country which shall include detailed account of the programs
and projects undertaken, statistics on crimes related to dangerous drugs, expenses incurred
pursuant to the provisions of this Act, recommended remedial legislation, if needed, and such
other relevant facts as it may deem proper to cite.
Section 89. Auditing the Accounts and Expenses of the Board and the PDEA. – All accounts and
expenses of the Board and the PDEA shall be audited by the COA or its duly authorized
representative.
ARTICLE XI
Section 90. Jurisdiction. – The Supreme Court shall designate special courts from among the
existing Regional Trial Courts in each judicial region to exclusively try and hear cases involving
violations of this Act. The number of courts designated in each judicial region shall be based on
the population and the number of cases pending in their respective jurisdiction.
The DOJ shall designate special prosecutors to exclusively handle cases involving violations of
this Act.
The preliminary investigation of cases filed under this Act shall be terminated within a period of
thirty (30) days from the date of their filing.
When the preliminary investigation is conducted by a public prosecutor and a probable cause is
established, the corresponding information shall be filed in court within twenty-four (24) hours
from the termination of the investigation. If the preliminary investigation is conducted by a judge
and a probable cause is found to exist, the corresponding information shall be filed by the proper
prosecutor within forty-eight (48) hours from the date of receipt of the records of the case.
Trial of the case under this Section shall be finished by the court not later than sixty (60) days
from the date of the filing of the information. Decision on said cases shall be rendered within a
period of fifteen (15) days from the date of submission of the case for resolution.
Section 91. Responsibility and Liability of Law Enforcement Agencies and other Government
Officials and Employees in Testifying as Prosecution Witnesses in Dangerous Drugs Cases. –
Any member of law enforcement agencies or any other government official and employee who,
after due notice, fails or refuses intentionally or negligently, to appear as a witness for the
prosecution in any proceedings, involving violations of this Act, without any valid reason, shall be
punished with imprisonment of not less than twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20)
years and a fine of not less than Five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000.00), in addition to the
administrative liability he/she may be meted out by his/her immediate superior and/or appropriate
body.
The immediate superior of the member of the law enforcement agency or any other government
employee mentioned in the preceding paragraph shall be penalized with imprisonment of not
less than two (2) months and one (1) day but not more than six (6) years and a fine of not less
than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) but not more than Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00)
and in addition, perpetual absolute disqualification from public office if despite due notice to them
and to the witness concerned, the former does not exert reasonable effort to present the latter to
the court.
The member of the law enforcement agency or any other government employee mentioned in
the preceding paragraphs shall not be transferred or re-assigned to any other government office
located in another territorial jurisdiction during the pendency of the case in court. However, the
concerned member of the law enforcement agency or government employee may be transferred
or re-assigned for compelling reasons: Provided, That his/her immediate superior shall notify the
court where the case is pending of the order to transfer or re-assign, within twenty-four (24)
hours from its approval; Provided, further, That his/her immediate superior shall be penalized
with imprisonment of not less than two (2) months and one (1) day but not more than six (6)
years and a fine of not less than Ten thousand pesos (P10,000.00) but not more than Fifty
thousand pesos (P50,000.00) and in addition, perpetual absolute disqualification from public
office, should he/she fail to notify the court of such order to transfer or re-assign.
Prosecution and punishment under this Section shall be without prejudice to any liability for
violation of any existing law.
Section 92. Delay and Bungling in the Prosecution of Drug Cases. – Any government officer or
employee tasked with the prosecution of drug-related cases under this act, who, through patent
laxity, inexcusable neglect, unreasonable delay or deliberately causes the unsuccessful
prosecution and/or dismissal of the said drug cases, shall suffer the penalty of imprisonment
ranging from twelve (12) years and one (1) day to twenty (20) years without prejudice to his/her
prosecution under the pertinent provisions of the Revised Penal Code.
Section 93. Reclassification, Addition or Removal of Any Drug from the List of Dangerous
Drugs. – The Board shall have the power to reclassify, add to or remove from the list of
dangerous drugs. Proceedings to reclassify, add, or remove a drug or other substance may be
initiated by the PDEA, the DOH, or by petition from any interested party, including the
manufacturer of a drug, a medical society or association, a pharmacy association, a public
interest group concerned with drug abuse, a national or local government agency, or an
individual citizen. When a petition is received by the Board, it shall immediately begin its own
investigation of the drug. The PDEA also may begin an investigation of a drug at any time based
upon the information received from law enforcement laboratories, national and local law
enforcement and regulatory agencies, or other sources of information.
The Board after notice and hearing shall consider the following factors with respect to each
substance proposed to be reclassified, added or removed from control:
(c) The state of current scientific knowledge regarding the drug or other substance;
The Board shall also take into accord the obligations and commitments to international treaties,
conventions and agreements to which the Philippines is a signatory.
The Dangerous Drugs Board shall give notice to the general public of the public hearing of the
reclassification, addition to or removal from the list of any drug by publishing such notice in any
newspaper of general circulation once a week for two (2) weeks.
(b) In case a precursors and essential chemicals is reclassified as dangerous drug, the
penalties for violations of the Act involving precursors and essential chemicals shall, in
case of conviction, be imposed in all pending criminal prosecutions;
(c) In case of the addition of a new drug to the list of dangerous drugs and precursors
and essential chemicals, no criminal liability involving the same under this Act shall arise
until after the lapse of fifteen (15) days from the last publication of such notice;
(d) In case of removal of a drug from the list of dangerous drugs and precursors and
essential chemicals, all persons convicted and/or detained for the use and/or possession
of such a drug shall be automatically released and all pending criminal prosecution
involving such a drug under this Act shall forthwith be dismissed; and
(e) The Board shall, within five (5) days from the date of its promulgation submit to
Congress a detailed reclassification, addition, or removal of any drug from the list of
dangerous drugs.
ARTICLE XII
Section 94. Implementing Rules and Regulations. – The present Board in consultation with the
DOH, DILG, DOJ, DepEd, DSWD, DOLE, PNP, NBI, PAGCOR and the PCSO and all other
concerned government agencies shall promulgate within sixty (60) days the Implementing Rules
and Regulations that shall be necessary to implement the provisions of this Act.
ARTICLE XIII
Final Provisions
The Committee shall be headed by the respective Chairpersons of the Senate Committee on
Public Order and Illegal Drugs and the House of Representatives Committee on Dangerous
Drugs.
Section 96. Powers and Functions of the Oversight Committee. – The Oversight Committee on
Dangerous Drugs shall, in aid of legislation, perform the following functions, among others:
(a) To set the guidelines and overall framework to monitor and ensure the proper
implementation of this Act;
(b) To ensure transparency and require the submission of reports from government
agencies concerned on the conduct of programs, projects and policies relating to the
implementation of this act;
(c) To approve the budget for the programs of the Oversight Committee on Dangerous
Drugs and all disbursements therefrom, including compensation of all personnel;
(d) To submit periodic reports to the President of the Philippines and Congress on the
implementation of the provisions of this Act;
(e) To determine inherent weaknesses in the law and recommend the necessary
remedial legislation or executive measures; and
(f) To perform such other duties, functions and responsibilities as may be necessary to
effectively attain the objectives of this Act.
Section 97. Adoption of Committee Rules and Regulations, and Funding. – The Oversight
Committee on Dangerous Drugs shall adopt its internal rules of procedure, conduct hearings and
receive testimonies, reports, and technical advice, invite or summon by subpoena ad
testificandum any public official, private citizen, or any other person to testify before it, or require
any person by subpoena duces tecum documents or other materials as it may require consistent
with the provisions of this Act.
To carry out the powers and functions of the Oversight Committee on Dangerous Drugs, the
initial sum of Twenty-five million pesos (P25,000,000.00) shall be charged against the current
appropriations of the Senate. Thereafter, such amount necessary for its continued operations
shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
The Oversight Committee on Dangerous Drugs shall exist for a period of ten (10) years from the
effectivity of this Act and may be extended by a joint concurrent resolution.
Section 98. Limited Applicability of the Revised Penal Code. – Notwithstanding any law, rule or
regulation to the contrary, the provisions of the Revised Penal Code (Act No. 3814), as
amended, shall not apply to the provisions of this Act, except in the case of minor offenders.
Where the offender is a minor, the penalty for acts punishable by life imprisonment to death
provided herein shall be reclusion perpetua to death.
Section 99. Separability Clause. – If for any reason any section or provision of this Act, or any
portion thereof, or the application of such section, provision or portion thereof to any person,
group or circumstance is declared invalid or unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act shall not
be affected by such declaration and shall remain in force and effect.
Section 100. Repealing Clause. – Republic Act No. 6425, as amended, is hereby repealed and
all other laws, administrative orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof inconsistent with the
provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 101. Amending Clause. – Republic Act No. 7659 is hereby amended accordingly.
Section 102. Effectivity. – This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days upon its publication in at
least two (2) national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,
(Sgd) (Sgd)
FRANKLIN M. DRILON JOSE DE VENECIA, JR.
President of the Senate Speaker of the House of Representatives
This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. 1858 and House Bill No. 4433 was finally
passed by the Senate and the House of Representatives on May 30, 2002 and May 29, 2002,
respectively.
(Sgd) (Sgd)
OSCAR G. YABES ROBERTO P. NAZARENO
Secretary of the Senate Secretary General
House of Representatives
(Sgd)
GLORIA MACAPAGAL-
ARROYO
President of the Philippines
ANNEX
1. ACETIC ANHYDRIDE
2. N-ACETYLANTHRANILIC ACID
3. EPHEDRINE
4. ERGOMETRINE
5. ERGOTAMINE
6. ISOSAFROLE
7. LYSERGIC ACID
8. 3, 4-METHYLENEDIOXYPHENYL-2 PROPANONE
9. NOREPHEDRINE
10. 1-PHENYL-2-PROPANONE
11. PIPERONAL
12. POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE
13. PSEUDOEPHEDRINE
14. SAFROLE
THE SALTS OF THE SUBSTANCES LISTED IN THIS TABLE WHENEVER THE EXISTENCE
OF SUCH SALTS IS POSSIBLE.
1. ACETONE
2. ANTHRANILIC ACID
3. ETHYL ETHER
4. HYDROCHLORIC ACID
5. METHYL ETHYL KETONE
6. PHENYLACETIC ACID
7. PIPERIDINE
8. SULPHURIC ACID
9. TOLUENE
THE SALTS OF THE SUBSTANCES LISTED IN THIS TABLE WHENEVER THE EXISTENCE
OF SUCH SALTS IS POSSIBLE (THE SALTS OF HYDROCHLORIC ACID AND SULPHURIC
ACID ARE SPECIFICALLY EXCLUDED)
1. Acetorphine
2. Acetyl-alpha-methylfentanyl
3. Acetylmethadol
4. Alfentanil
5. Allylprodine
6. Alphacetylmethadol
7. Alphameprodine
8. Alphamethadol
9. Alpha-methylfentanyl
10. Alpha-methylthiofentanyl
11. Alphaprodine
12. Anileridine
13. Benzethidine
14. Benzylmorphine
15. Betacetylmethadol
16. Beta-hydroxyfentanyl
17. Beta-hydroxy-3-methylfentanyl
18. Betameprodine
19. Betamethadol
20. Betaprodine
21. Bezitramide
22. Cannabis and Cannabis resin and extracts and tinctures of cannabis
23. Clonitazene
24. Coca leaf
25. Cocaine
26. Codoxime
27. Concentrate of poppy straw
28. Desomorphine
29. Dextromoramide
30. Diampromide
31. Diethylthiambutene
32. Difenoxin
33. Dihydroetorphine
34. Dihydromorphine
35. Dihydromorphine*
36. Dimenoxadol
37. Dimepheptanol
38. Dimethylthiambutene
39. Dioxaphetyl butyrate
40. Diphenoxylate
41. Dipipanone
42. Drotebanol
43. Ecgonine
44. Ethylmethylthiambutene
45. Etonitazene
46. Etorphine
47. Etoxeridine
48. Fentanyl
49. Furethidine
50. Heroin
51. Hydrocodone
52. Hydromorphinol
53. Hydromorphone
54. Hydroxypethidine
55. Isomethadone
56. Ketobemidone
57. Levomethorphan
58. Levomoramide
59. Levophenacylmorphan
60. Levorphanol
61. Metazocine
62. Methadone
63. Methadone Intermediate
64. Methyldesorphine
65. Methyldihydromorphine
66. 3-methylfentanyl
67. 3-methylthiofentanyl
68. Metopon
69. Moramide intermediate
70. Morpheridine
71. Morphine
72. Morphine methobromide
73. Morphine-N-oxide
74. MPPP
75. Myrophine
76. Nicomorphine
77. Noracymethadol
78. Norlevorphanol
79. Normethadone
80. Normorphine
81. Norpipanone
82. Opium
83. Oxycodone
84. Oxymorphone
85. Para-fluorofentanyl
86. PEPAP
87. Pethidine
88. Pethidine intermediate A
89. Pethidine intermediate B
90. Pethidine intermediate C
91. Phenadoxone
92. Phenampromide
93. Phenazocine
94. Phenomorphan
95. Phenoperidine
96. Piminodine
97. Piritramide
98. Proheptazine
99. Properidine
100. Racemethorphan
101. Racemoramide
102. Racemorphan
103. Remifentanil
104. Sufentanil
105. Thebacon
106. Thebaine
107. Thiofentanyl
108. Tilidine
109. Trimeperidine
-----
AND the isomers, unless specifically excepted, of the drugs in this Schedule whenever the
existence of such isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation;
The esters and ethers, unless appearing in another Schedule, of the drugs in this Schedule
whenever the existence of such esters or ethers is possible;
The salts of the drugs listed in this Schedule, including the salts of esters, ethers and isomers as
provided above whenever the existence of such salts is possible.
1. Acetyldihydrocodeine
2. Codeine
3. Dextropropoxyphene
4. Dihydrocodeine
5. Ethylmorphine
6. Nicocodine
7. Nicodicodine
8. Norcodeine
9. Pholcodine
10. Propiram
And the isomers, unless specifically excepted, of the drugs in this Schedule whenever the
existence of such isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation.
The salts of the drugs listed in this Schedule, including the salts of the isomers as provided
above whenever the existence of such salts is possible.
1. Preparations of : Acetyldihydrocodeine,
Codeine,
Dihydrocodeine,
Ethylmorphine,
Nicocodine,
Nicodicodine,
Norcodeine and
Pholcodine
When compounded with one or more other ingredients and
containing not more than milligrams of the drug per dosage unit
and with a concentration of not more than 2.5 per cent in
undivided preparations.
2. Preparations of : Propiram containing not more than 100 milligrams of propiram
per dosage unit and compounded with at least the same amount
of Methylcellulose.
3. Preparations of : Dextropropoxyphene for oral use containing not more than 135
milligrams of dextropropoxyphene base per dosage unit or with a
concentration of not more than 2.5 per cent in undivided
preparations, provided that such preparations do not contain any
substance controlled under the Convention on Psychotropic
Substances of 1971.
4. Preparations of : Cocaine containing not more than 0.1 per cent of cocaine
calculated as cocaine base; and
Preparations of:
Opium or morphine containing not more than 0.2 per cent of
morphine calculated as anhydrous morphine base and
compounded with one or more other ingredients and in such a
way that the drug cannot be recovered by readily applicable
means or in a yield that would constitute a risk to public health.
5. Preparations of : Difenoxin containing, per dosage unit, not more than 0.5
milligrams of difenoxin and a quantity of atropine sulfate
equivalent to at least 5 per cent of the dose of difenoxin.
6. Preparations of : Diphenoxylate containing per dosage unit, not more than 2.5
milligrams diphenoxylate calculated as base and a quantity of
atropine sulfate equivalent to at least 1 per cent of the dose of
diphenoxylate.
7. Preparations of : Pulvis ipecacuanhae et opii compositus
1. Acetorphine
2. Acetyl-alpha-methylfentanyl
3. Alpha-methylfentanyl
4. Alpha-methylthiofentanyl
5. Beta-hydroxy-3-methylfentanyl
6. Beta-hydroxyfentanyl
7. Cannabis and Cannabis resin
8. Desomorphine
9. Etorphine
10. Heroin
11. Ketobemidone
12. 3-methylfentanyl
13. 3-methylthiofentanyl
14. MPPP
15. Para-fluorofentanyl
16. PEPAP
17. Thiofentanyl
AND the salts of the drugs listed in this Schedule whenever the formation of such salts is
possible
Dimethoxybromoamphetamine
CATHINONE (-)-(S)-2-Aminopropiophenone
DET 3-[2-(Diethylamino)ethyl)indole)
DMA (±)-2,5-DIMETHOXY-a-methylphenethylamine
2,5 Dimethoxyamphetamine
DMPH 3-(1,2-Dimethylhepty)-7,8,9,-10-tetrahydro-6,6,9-
trimethyl-6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran-1-ol
DMT 3-[2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl]indole
DOET (±)-4-Ethyl-2,5-dimethoxy-a-phorethylamine
2,5-Dimethoxy-4-ethylamphetamine
ETICYCLIDINE (PCE) N-Ethyl-1-phenylcyclohexylamine
ETRYPAMINE 3-(2-Aminobutyl)indole
(+)-LYSERGIDE (LSD, LSD- 9,10-Didehydro-N,N-diethyl-6-methylergoline-8b-
25) carboxamide
MDA (+)-N, a-Dimethyl-3,4-(methylene-dioxy)phenethylamine
3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine
MESCALINE 3,4,5-Trimethoxyphenethylamine
METHCATHINONE 2-(Methylamino)-1-phenylpropan-1-one
4-METHYLAMINOREX (+)-cis-2-Amino-4-methyl-5-phenyl-2-oxazoline
MMDA 2-Methoxy-a-methyl-4,5-
(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine
5-Methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine
N-ETHYL MDA (+)-N-Ethyl-a-methyl-
3,4(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine
3-4-Methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine
N-HYDROXY MDA (+)-N-[a-Methyl-3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenethyl]-
hydroxylamine
PARAHEXYL 3-Hexyl-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-6,6,-9-trimethyl-6H-
dibenzo[b,d]pyran-1-ol
PMA p-Methoxy-a-methylphenethylamine
Paramethoxyamphetamine
PSILOCINE, PSILOTSIN 3-[2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl]indol-4-ol
PSILOCYBINE 3-[2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl]indol-4-yl
dihydrogen phosphate
ROLICYCLIDINE (PHP, 1-(1-Phenylcyclohexyl)pyrrolidine
PCPY)
STP, DOM 2,5-Dimethoxy-a,4-dimethylphenethylamine
TENAMFETAMINE (MDA) a-Methyl-3,4-(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine
Methylenedioxyamphetamine
TENOCYCLIDINE (TCP) 1-[1-(2-Thienyl)cyclohexyl]piperridine
TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL - the following isomers and their stereochemical variants:
7,8,9,10-Tetrahydro-6,6,9-trimethyl-3-
pentyl-6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran-1-ol
(9R,10aR)-8,9,10,10a-Tetrahydro-6,6,9-
trimethyl-3-pentyl-6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran-
1-ol
(6aR,9R,10aR)-6a,9,10,10a-Tetrahydro-
6,6,9-trimethyl-3-pentyl-6H-
dibenzo[b,d]pyran-1-ol
(6aR,10aR)-6a,7,10,10a-Tetrahydro-
6,6,9-trimethyl-3-pentyl-6H-
dibenzo[b,d]pyran-1-ol
(6a,7,8,9-Tetrahydro-6,6,9-trimethyl-3-
pentyl-6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran-1-ol
(6aR,10aR)-6a,7,8,9,10,10a-Hexahydro-
6,6,dimethyl-9-methylene-3-pentyl-6H-
Dibenzo[b,d]pyran-1-ol
TMA (±)-3,4,5-Trimethoxy-a – methylphenethylamine
3,4,5-Trimethoxyamphetamine
4-MIA-(a-methyl-4-methylthiophenethylamine)
The stereoisomers, unless specifically excepted, of substances in this Schedule, whenever the
existence of such stereou\isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation.
LIST OF SUBSTANCES IN SCHEDULE II
1. AMFETAMINE (AMPHETAMINE)
2. DEXAMFETAMINE (DEXAMPHETAMINE)
3. FENETYLLINE
4. LEVAMFETAMINE (LEVAMPHETAMINE)
5. LEVOMETHAMPHETAMINE
6. MECLOQUALONE
7. METAMFETAMINE (METHAMPHETAMINE)
8. METHAMPHETAMINE RACEMATE
9. METHAQUALONE
10. METHYLPHENIDATE
11. PHENCYCLIDINE (PCP)
12. PHENMETRAZINE
13. SECOBARBITAL
14. DRONABINOL (delta-9-tetrahydro-cannabinol and its stereochemical variants)
15. ZIPEPROL
16. 2C-B(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine)
1. AMOBARBITAL
2. BUPRENORPHINE
3. BUTALBITAL
4. CATHINE (+)-norpseudo-ephedrine
5. CYCLOBARBITAL
6. FLUNITRAZEPAM
7. GLUTETHIMIDE
8. PENTAZOCINE
9. PENTOBARBITAL
Substances in Schedule IV
1. ALLOBARBITAL
2. ALPRAZOLAM
3. AMFEPRAMONE 4. AMINOREX
5. BARBITAL
6. BENZFETAMINE(benzphetamine)
7. BROMAZEPAM
8. Butobarbital
9. BROTIZOLAM
10. CAMAZEPAM
11. CHLORDIAZEPOXIDE
12. CLOBAZAM
13. CLONAZEPAM
14. CLORAZEPATE
15. CLOTIAZEPAM
16. CLOXAZOLAM
17. DELORAZEPAM
18. DIAZEPAM
19. ESTAZOLAM
20. ETHCHLORVYNOL
21. ETHINAMATE
22. ETHYL LOFLAZEPATE
23. ETILAMFETAMINE(N-ethylampetamine)
24. FENCAMFAMIN
25. FENPROPOREX
26. FLUDIAZEPAM
27. FLURAZEPAM
28. HALAZEPAM
29. HALOXAZOLAM
30. KETAZOLAM
31. LEFETAMINE(SPA)
32. LOPRAZOLAM
33. LORAZEPAM
34. LORMETAZEPAM
35. MAZINDOL
36. MEDAZEPAM
37. MEFENOREX
38. MEPROBAMATE
39. MESOCARB
40. METHYLPHENOBARBITAL
41. METHYPRYLON
42. MIDAZOLAM
43. NIMETAZEPAM
44. NITRAZEPAM
45. NORDAZEPAM
46. OXAZEPAM
47. OXAZOLAM
48. PEMOLINE
49. PHENDIMETRAZINE
50. PHENOBARBITAL
51. PHENTERMINE
52. PINAZEPAM
53. PIPRADROL
54. PRAZEPAM
55. PYROVALERONE
56. SECBUTABARBITAL
57. TEMAZEPAM
58. TETRAZEPAM
59. TRIAZOLAM
60. VINYLBITAL GHB (Gamma-Hydroxyburic acid)
61. Zolpidem