Palace confident all barangays drug-free when Duterte's term ends

President Rodrigo Duterte missed out on ridding the country of drugs and crime three to six months as he promised in 2016 but the administration believes his campaign has been a success.

According to Joseph Morong's special report on "24 Oras" ahead of Duterte's State of the Nation Address on Monday, government data showed that the authorities from July 2016 to May 2021 seized P59.93 billion worth of illegal drugs.

They also arrested 293,841 drug personalities including 12,356 high value individuals, and killed 6,147 in drug operations.

More than half, at 52.55%, of the country's barangays have been rid of illegal drugs.

"Kampante naman po tayo na may isang taon pa. Kakayanin naman pong gawin 'yan at pagkatapos po ng termino ng presidente, e, maaring ma-achieve po na lahat ng barangay ay maging drug-free," Duterte's spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said.

Amnesty International believes otherwise.

"Palpak yung war on drugs. Ang successful ay 'yung war on the poor kasi more than 30,000 'yung pinatay," AI Philippines chair Aurora Parong said.

For more of Duterte's pronouncements against crime and the comments of Amnesty International, please watch the special report. —NB, GMA News