Manila - About 100 police officers were facing administrative investigation for failing to attend court hearings on drug-related cases, a police spokesman said Wednesday. Chief superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said the officers may be suspended or dismissed from service if proven that they neglected their duty to attend court hearings, resulting in the dismissal of criminal charges against suspected drug pushers.

"Court duty is top priority among all other police duties," he said. "Attendance at court hearings is a primary duty of the police."

Dionisio Santiago, chief of the Philippines Drug Enforcement Agency, said the illegal drug problem had become a national security concern in country with an estimated 6.7 million Filipinos hooked in drugs.

Santiago said the illegal trade rakes in between 6.4 billion dollars and 8.4 billion dollars annually and drug syndicates were suspected to be paying off large sums of money to law enforcement authorities and court officers to escape prosecution. (dpa)