Marcos happy over own drug war

MANILA - President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is elated over the government’s successes in the fight against illegal drugs at the grassroots level following the report of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that it had confiscated some P10.4 billion worth of narcotics last year, and clearing large number of barangays of drug influence.

“Na-ireport ng PNP na we have successfully confiscated an estimated 10.4 billion pesos worth of illegal drugs in 2023. Masasabi natin na 27,968 na barangay ay naideklara na na drug-cleared,” Marcos said.

“Magandang progreso ito sa grassroots level dahil ang mga barangay ay pag nasabi natin ay cleared ‘yan, madali nang i-monitor at maayos na ang patakbo doon. Siyempre, lagi rin natin tinitingnan ‘yung rehab— ‘yung prevention na hindi na pumasok ‘yung mga kababayan natin sa masasamang ugali tungkol dito sa drugs at kung sino man ang nasubo na ay bibigyan natin ng tulong sa pamamagitan ng mga rehabilitation center,” he added.

He said some 177 police officers have been charged with drug-related offenses including planting of evidence, unlawful arrest, and excessive violence in Metro Manila alone following a more intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign focusing on law enforcers.

“Kabila naman niyan ay alam naman natin na kung minsan nadadala ang ating mga opisyal at siyempre hindi natin maaaring pabayaan ‘yan. Kaya’t ang nangyari ay 177 police officers have been charged with drug-related offenses. Including the planting of evidence, unlawful arrest, and excessive violence dito pa lang sa NCR,” Marcos said.

“We are now pursuing 151,818 court cases by the DOJ (Department of Justice) in 2022 to 2023, with 121,582 naikulong na, itong mga violators tungkol dito sa mga drug trade,” he added.

These data are not just good numbers but real improvement in the continuing fight against the proliferation of illicit narcotics, the President said in highlighting the administration’s thrust to create drug-free communities.

“Para sa amin hindi lang ‘to sa mga magagandang numero kung hindi ay talagang magiging improvement. Pinaganda talaga natin ang komunidad natin, pinapaganda talaga natin ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan, at iniiwas natin ang mga kabataan natin diyan sa pagpasok sa lifestyle ng drug-taking,” he said.

The national government has made inroads in addressing illegal drugs at the local level and worked with 50 provinces, 1,160 municipalities, and 30 cities in implementing the Anti-Drug Abuse Council.

Nakapaggawa tayo ng 74 in-patient treatment and rehabilitation facilities to provide a path to recovery for those who want to break free from their addiction,” Marcos said.

Aside from confiscating around P10.4 billion worth of illegal drugs from January to December 2023 and clearing more than 27,000 barangays of narcotics, the PNP said it also arrested 56,495 suspects after conducting more than 44,000 anti-illegal drug operations.

The recent government success was under President Marcos’s new approach to address illegal drugs by focusing on rehabilitation, reintegration, and preventive education programs specifically for the youth. (Mindanao Examiner)