Only 1 casualty during PDEA’s leadership in gov’t drug war, data show
Only one drug suspect was killed in more than a month that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) headed the government’s anti-drug operations.
Based on the data provided by PDEA on Thursday, only one drug suspect—from Davao Region—had been killed from October 11 to November 20.
The same documents showed that the agency has conducted 1,546 operations, cleared 38 barangays, arrested 469 drug personalities, and seized P62.5 million worth of illegal drugs.
According to the agency, it has confiscated 6.9 kilos of crystal meth (shabu), 11 kilos of dried marijuana leaves, and 34 pieces of ecstacy.
The PDEA has also arrested 81 high-value targets—seven of which are members of drug syndicates and six government employees. Nineteen of these targets were arrested in Region 4A, the records showed.
The agency, who had assumed the key role in President Rodrigo Duterte’s crackdown on illegal drugs, bowed out of the campaign following the supposed resurgence of criminality in the country.
It was catapulted into the frontlines of Duterte’s crackdown against illegal drugs in October following the reports of human rights violations and extrajudicial killings in police operations.
In a text message to INQUIRER.net on Wednesday, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino welcomed President Rodrigo Duterte’s decision to return the Philippine National Police (PNP) as the key implementer of the government’s crackdown against illegal drugs.
“We respect and adhere to the decision of the President,” Aquino said in a text message to INQUIRER.net.
Aquino said his wish to have the PNP back in the anti-drug campaign was “good news” to PDEA with the agency’s limited funds, equipment, and manpower.
“But having the PNP and other law enforcement agencies back is a good news PDEA. In fact, that’s my wish,” he said.
“I’ve said this during my past interviews because we are undermanned, under-budgeted, and under-equipped,” he added, maintaining that the fight against illicit narcotics would be easier “if everyone joins and help.” /je
