THE Philippine National Police (PNP) reported the intensified campaign of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration against illegal drugs seized almost P32 billion worth of illegal narcotics from July 1, 2022 to April 21, 2024.
“Nakapagtala po tayo ng almost P32 billion worth of seized drugs from July 1, 2022 hanggang April 21, 2024 at napakalaki po niyan,” PNP Spokesperson P/Col. Jean Fajardo said in a news forum in Quezon City.
“Kasama po diyan sa P32 billion worth of seized drugs iyong nabanggit po ng ating SILG noong nakakuha po tayo ng almost 990 kilos noong October 2022 at pati na rin po iyong more than 500 kilos ng shabu noong March 2023 na may naaresto rin po tayo diyan, isang Chinese national at recently nga po nitong April 15 sa Alitagtag, Batangas kung saan nakasabat po tayo ng P1.4 billion worth of illegal drugs,” she said.
The PNP, she said, has been carrying out its anti-illegal drugs campaign through a holistic approach spearheaded by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.
The police, Fajardo said, has intensified demand reduction drive through the BIDA program by constructing more rehabilitation centers including those based in communities.
“At hopefully, iyong atin pong mga nai-involve po, iyong mga tinatawag po nating person who uses drugs’ po ay maisasama po natin doon sa tinatawag po nating reformation and wellness reform program para hindi na po sila bumalik doon sa mga dati po nilang iligal at maling gawain,” said Fajardo.
For his part, Abalos said because of the BIDA program, close to four hundred thousand advocates participated in DILG’s various BIDA activities.
The DILG has seen an improvement in the 28,000 barangays recorded to be drug-cleared and over 6,000 barangays that are drug-free.
“Our local government units implemented community-based drug rehabilitation program, with 1,534 LGUs recorded to have their own community-based drug rehab,” said Abalos.
“So this community-based drug rehab programs have already produced 182,846 graduates from the program and eight of them to be reintegrated back to their communities,” he added.
Various intervention and fitness programs were also provided to over 20,000 current enrollees in DILG’s community-based drug rehabilitation campaign, said the DILG chief.
The DILG is also incentivizing communities to fight drug abuse, he said, adding 14 LGUs were given special awards for their community-based rehabilitation.
Similarly, 246 local Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (ADAC) were given award for their exemplary performance in their mandate and roles in communities. In terms of law enforcement, Abalos said they also want to ensure that illegal drug use perpetrators go to jail.
