Bato: Drug supply in PH decreased by ‘80 to 90 percent’

Philippine National Police Chief Director General Ronald “Bato’ dela Rosa
INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / NINO JESUS ORBETA

Philippine National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa said on Friday that the drug supply in the country significantly dropped by “around 80 to 90 percent” since the start of the government’s intensified anti-drug war.

“The good news is that we have significantly reduced the supply of illegal drugs in the country by some 80 to 90 percent,” Dela Rosa said in a speech before the members of Bicol police at Camp Simeon Ola in Legazpi City.

Dela Rosa pointed out that under the “Oplan Double Barrel” and “Project Tokhang,” more than 720,000 drug personalities have surrendered.

The PNP aims to reach its target of more than a million drug “surrenderers” based on the Dangerous Drugs Board’s data that 1.8 million Filipinos are affected by drugs.

READ: Bato orders men: 1.8M drug surrenderers in 6 months

Meanwhile, more than 15,700 users and pushers have been arrested nationwide.

The police chief added that more than 850,000 houses have been visited by cops under “Project Tokhang.”

READ: War on drugs exceeds gains of first 6 months of 2016 – PDEA

“With many drug personalities out of the streets, we now expect safer communities… If anyone is more afraid these days, these are the people who are involved in the illegal drug trade who now realize that their days are numbered because they may be arrested and jailed any time,” dela Rosa said.

He also urged his men to “continue even stronger” in the next four months before the deadline President Rodrigo Duterte gave the PNP in ending the drug menace in the country.

“The President is confident that we will win this war in six months and we are one with him in this effort,” Dela Rosa said./rga