PNP chief says war on drugs not futile

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde. (File photo by JAM STA. ROSA / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines – The estimated seven to eight million drug dependents in the country, as claimed by President Rodrigo Duterte, is not an indication of the war on drugs’ shortcomings, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde pointed out Wednesday.

“Hindi naman siguro [hindi effective] kasi ang tinitingnan natin dito probably is the supply, [if] mas malaki ang supply (Maybe not, because probably we are looking at the supply of drugs, if the supply increases)” Albayalde told reporters in Camp Crame.

Duterte on Saturday bared the estimated figure, higher than previously reported numbers, as he called the drug users “lost souls,” and renewed his vow to end the drug menace in the country.

Albayalde said the President’s data did not come from the PNP, but added that Duterte has “unlimited sources” of information to be able to make such a claim.

“With the seven million, that poses a big challenge again sa (to) law enforcement, particularly sa (to) PNP, PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency), and the NBI (National Bureau of Investigation),” Albayalde said.

He added that the PNP has no estimate on the  number of drug users in the country.

Albayalde said that the number of reported drug dependents may have increased due to the government’s Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Badac), tasked to enforce the campaign against illegal drugs in the community level.

He said the list might have increased since the Badacs are “cooperating against the war” and are serving as sources of information regarding the number of drug dependents in their respective areas. / gsg