President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in one of his speaking engagements in Davao City on October 27, 2022. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines –Under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the government has created systems to strengthen the country’s peace and order environment, especially by removing drugs.
On Monday (November 14), Philippine National Police chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said anti-illegal drugs units confiscated P9.7 billion in illegal narcotics since Marcos Jr. took office in July.
In a ceremony at Camp Crame in Quezon City, Azurin said the PNP’s strong fight against illicit narcotics led to 18,505 anti-drug operations that yielded over P9.7 billion in illegal drugs and 22,646 arrests.
Forty-six suspects were killed during these operations.
The PNP chief noted that the police are partnering with the religious sector so that at their level, they can engage the suspects at the barangays and persuade them to surrender and stop their illegal activities.
Azurin also acknowledged the President’s full support for the PNP’s “more focused holistic approach” to putting a stop to illegal drugs and criminality, which signifies the government’s commitment to shaping up mechanisms to improve the country’s peace and order situation.
To assure Filipinos everywhere that a peaceful society and a greater sense of security can be enjoyed by Filipinos everywhere, Azurin said that the entire PNP remains committed to executing the government’s anti-illegal drug programs.
In an interview last month, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) spokesperson Derrick Carreon said the Philippines is in a “good situation” in terms of fighting the illegal drug menace as more areas in the country are now drug-cleared as the government implements a holistic approach.
Out of the 42,046 barangays in the country, the drug-cleared barangays now number about 26,093 with drug-affected barangays only at 9,414,” Carreon explained, adding the PDEA and other law enforcement agencies are on top of the situation.
PDEA’s approach includes key strategies such as demand reduction, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
The anti-drug agency also continues to go after big-time targets and syndicates in compliance with the directive of President Marcos.
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