PDEA to consolidate national watchlist of drug users

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will lead the consolidation of a national watchlist of illegal drug personalities in the country to update a 6,000-person “validated narcolist” in President Rodrigo Duterte’s possession.

In an interview with the media on Friday, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said a “workshop” among law enforcement agencies would be held starting June 25 to consolidate all drug watchlists.

“That watchlist would be good for all—for the Philippine National Police, PDEA, and everyone, unlike now in which the PDEA has its own watchlist, the barangays have their own watchlist, and the PNP, too, leading to different numbers,” Aquino said.

Updated survey

Aquino, however, said an updated survey of the number of drug users in the country was not possible anytime soon.

Mr. Duterte has said that  there are around three to four million drug users in the country.

Asked for an update on the President’s estimate, Aquino admitted that the number had not declined.

“It’s actually increasing, since we started at around 1.5 million,” he said.  —JAYMEE T. GAMIL