Marcos: No need for bloody drive vs illegal drugs, crime

War on drugs composite image from Inquirer file photos

MANILA, Philippines — There is no need for a “bloody solution” to eradicate criminality and illegal drugs,  President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. said on Tuesday while campaigning for the administration-backed Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas Senate slate in Pasay City.

“Sa laban kontra krimen at droga, di natin kailangan dumaan sa madugong solusyon. Wala kaming paniniwala na ang solusyon ay kailangang pumatay ng libu-libong Pilipino. May tamang paraan para tiyakin ang kapayapaan at kayusan,” said Marcos when he endorsed his 12-man Senate slate at the Cuneta Astrodome.

(In our war against criminality and drugs, we don’t need to go use bloody solutions. We don’t believe that the solution is to kill thousands of Filipinos. There’s a proper way to ensure peace and order.)

While Marcos did not particularly name names, former president Rodrigo Duterte, along with several officials who served under his administration, are accused of crimes against humanity by drug war victims-families before the International Criminal Court.

Marcos, for his part, said the way to address criminality and illegal drug use is through “proper laws” and effective implementation of policies that bolster the capability of police and local government.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency reported 6,252 deaths in anti-drug police operations from July 1, 2016 to May 31, 2022.

A 2017 year end report attributed to the Office of the President, however, listed more than 20,000 dead in the first 17 months alone of the Duterte administration.