Philippine drug war 'different'

Previous anti-drugs campaigns have been controversial

A war on drugs in the Philippines will be "totally different" to the controversial Thai campaign, according to the Philippine drugs "tsar", Robert Barbers.

In an interview with the BBC's East Asia Today programme, Senator Barbers said that respect for human rights was central to the government's crackdown on drug dealing, use and trafficking.

And he said that the campaign would go right to the top of the echelons of power, as police would be encouraged to arrest traffickers no matter what position they held in society.

President Gloria Arroyo launched a three month "war on drugs" last week, similar to a recent campaign in Thailand that led to the deaths of at least 2,274 people.

Even if the campaign intensifies, we must always respect human rights

Senator Robert Barbers

When launching the campaign, President Arroyo acknowledged that the drug problem affected all social classes.

"I am demanding the authorities conduct a top-to-bottom campaign that not only targets the poor communities but also the rich and famous," she said.

With approximately 2.8% of Filipinos addicted to methamphetamines, known locally as "shabu", the Philippines has a problem almost as serious as Thailand.

But the government's commitment to tackle the drug problem does not mean that law enforcement agencies will be allowed to act extra-judicially, said Robert Barbers, the chairman of the Senate Oversight Committee on Illegal Drugs.

"Even if the campaign intensifies, we must always respect human rights, " said Senator Barbers, "Thailand and the Philippines are totally different".

Senator Barber admitted that there had been problems in the past with the "recycling" of confiscated drugs through corrupt police officials.

But, he said, this time no-one would escape sanction in the crackdown.

"You must not be selective in the campaign against drugs, whether it is a senator, or a governor, or a mayor, if he is connected with the highest echelons or power, you must still arrest him," he said.

'Torture' warning

Previous crackdowns on drug dealing in the Philippines have been controversial.

The former mayor of Manila, Alfredo Lim, caused controversy in 2000, when he marked the houses of suspected drug dealers with spray paint.

His tactics have since been declared unconstitutional by the Philippine supreme court.

But despite government reassurances on the current campaign, human rights groups have already warned the media to look for signs of torture when suspected drug dealers were paraded in front of news conferences.