President Arroyo, invoking her powers as the country?s drug czar, ordered the Justice Department to submit all dismissed drug-related cases to her office for automatic review.

In issuing Administrative Order 253, President Arroyo said: ?The dangerous drugs? menace poses imminent danger to the public interest and safety.?

Pending review of the drug cases, Mrs. Arroyo suspended the execution of the decision or any resolution on such cases.

The President gave Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez five days to elevate the cases to her office from the time he signs the dismissal order, noting that concerned parties will now appeal to Malaca?ang after the automatic review.

According to Dangerous Drugs Board chairman Vicente Sotto III, of the 99,754 illegal drugs cases filed from 2003 to end- 2008, only 22 percent were resolved.

Of the cases resolved, only 32 percent resulted in convictions, 31 percent led to acquittals, 27 percent or close to 6,000 cases dismissed, and 11 percent provisionally dismissed.

Deputy Palace spokesman Anthony Golez said the order does not mean the Palace is losing confidence in the Justice Department but is doing everything within its powers to strengthen the campaign against illegal drugs, particularly in the prosecution of such cases. Joyce Pangco Pa?ares