DDB's Santiago denies being source of 4 million drug-users estimate

Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chairman Dionisio Santiago said during Monday's episode of "Bawal ang Pasawat kay Mareng Winnie" that he was not the source of President Rodrigo Duterte's assertion that there were 4 million drug users in the country.

Santiago added that the president, more likely, sourced his information from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). "Ang kausap po niya PDEA na because, 'di ba sabi niya, PDEA," Santiago told host and economist Solita "Winnie" Monsod.

The president had used the 4 million figure to justify his war on drugs and his sacking of former DDB chair Benjamin Reyes - who had declared that there were only 1.8 million drug users.

"Kung 'yan ang figure ng PDEA, eh, hindi ko pa ho nakausap ang PDEA, hindi ko pa ho alam kung paano nakuha ng PDEA 'yan," Santiago meanwhile added.

Nevertheless, Santiago admitted that he had a hand in Duterte's 2016 revelation that there were already 3 million users five years ago.

"Ang tao ko ang nag-estimate, eh. Dahil yang figures na 'yan ay ginawa ng private research group yan. I think they were enlisted by the DBB," he explained.

Santiago, a former PDEA chief, however could not recall exactly when he informed Duterte of his three-million estimate.

The DDB chair also chided Reyes for his 1.8 million estimate, especially if it was based on the number of addicts in rehabilitation centers.

"If your survey is based on rehabilitation centers, medyo malabo ho 'yon. Alam niyo ang pumapasok sa rehab very minimal," he argued. "Yan nga ho ang problema eh. Ang sabi ko, pano kaya nakuha nitong... sino ba 'yang survey group na 'yan, san ba kumuha ng data 'yun?"

"Kasi ako practical worker ako, taga-barrio ako. So alam ko mas marami sa aming drug addict eh walang ngang pumapasok sa rehab," Santiago added. "With this president, you should be very careful with your data figure, dahil mabilis talaga siyang mag-desisyon."

Santiago also claimed that the number of drug users rose after he left the PDEA. "Ang point ho talaga doon, modesty aside, mga syndicates - tinatanong nila kung nandiyan pa ako [sa PDEA]. They really avoided stepping on Philippine soil, dahil nung umalis ako finire lahat ng tao ko na nago-operate sa international drug mules." — Margaret Claire Layug/DVM, GMA News