PRESIDENT Rodrigo Roa Duterte wants a full inventory of all the methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) confiscated by the authorities since the start of his administration to show human rights organizations about the dire drug situation in the country.
“Secretary Año, can we have a compilation of all shabu seized during this year starting — maybe starting during my term kung ilan na ang toneladang shabu nang na-embargo ng gobyerno?” President Duterte asked Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año during the President’s weekly “Talk to the People” aired on Monday night.
“Well, it’s all intended to appraise the human rights. And maybe when the time comes, we will use it to show to the ICC (International Criminal Court) na that’s the reason why we are not — I am not going to bow down to their jurisdiction is because they would see the enormity of the problem of shabu in the country, para malaman lang po nila.”
Año told the President that there is an estimated P79 to P80 billion worth of shabu seized by law enforcers and anti-drug agencies and his department will prepare a more detailed report based on the President’s instruction and will present it in the next meeting.
The interior chief reported during the President’s weekly address that his department continuously conducting its anti-drug campaign even during the pandemic.
From December 5 to 11, law enforcers have conducted 940 operations resulting in the arrest of 1,253 suspects. Twenty-one suspected drug offenders surrendered to authorities and there is no reported casualty during those operations.
A total of P72.8 million worth of illicit narcotics was seized during the six-day operation, Año said in his report.
Eradicating illegal drugs, fighting crime and corruption were President Duterte’s major campaign pledges when he ran for the presidency in 2016.
