No more big drug labs monitored in Philippines, says PDEA chief

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Friday said it has not monitored any big illegal drug laboratory operating in the country lately, as it lauded the government's intensified anti-drug campaign.

"Actually, wala na kaming namo-monitor na malaking laboratory right now sa Pilipinas," said PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva as he witnessed the destruction of over P13 billion worth of confiscated dangerous drugs in Trece Martirez, Cavite.

"Lahat ng droga na nasa atin ngayon is galing 'yan sa labas. Ito 'yung effort natin, ng pulis, ng PNP (Philippine National Police) at ng Customs na talagang mahinto natin ito," Villanueva said.

The war on drugs has been the centerpiece of the Duterte administration though it has been criticized, both locally and internationally, for its high death toll.

The police have estimated the number of slain suspects to 6,000 but critics, which include human rights advocates, said it could be as high as 27,000.

In July 2019, the United Nations Human Rights Council  (UNHRC) voted to set up an investigation into the Philippine government's anti-drug war.

A resolution, led by Iceland, was adopted at the forum in Geneva by a vote of 18 countries in favor and 14 against, including China, with 15 abstentions, including Japan.

Malacañang, in response, has asked UNHRC to respect the Philippines’ legal system.

Demand side

Villanueva, meanwhile, said authorities are also addressing the "demand side" of the narcotics problem in the country by clearing barangays of illegal drugs. He said illegal drugs would not be shipped to the Philippines if there would be no demand for them.

"While we are doing it, binibigyan naman natin ng corresponding action naman 'yung sa demand side kasi parati kong pinipilit kasi, kung walang demand, definitely, di na magpapapasok 'yan kasi di na siya profitable," he said.

"So this demand side, ang ginagawa natin, pagtutulungan natin ng local government unit," he added.

In June, the PDEA chief said authorities are also targeting the "puppet masters," or those behind the entry of illegal drugs in the country. —KBK, GMA News