PDEA: Duterte’s first year of campaign against illegal drugs successful

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Friday claimed success in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs during President Rodrigo Duterte’s first year in office.

At a briefing in Davao City, PDEA director Isidro Lapeña said the efforts of the inter-agency committee on anti-illegal drugs, created through Executive Order No. 15, was successful.

“The purpose of that inter-agency is to unify all the efforts of all agencies concerned and then integrate and synchronize lahat ng mga action, lahat ng mga strategies on anti-illegal drugs. And I would say that we are successful,” Lapeña said.

Lapeña said the success of the government’s anti-drug campaign contributes to the satisfaction and trust ratings of the President, which have remained high since he assumed office.

“The drug campaign is part of that rating. So I would like to say, and I am happy to report that while we have done so much, well so much more has to be done,” he said.

Lapeña’s claim of success came despite the number of drug suspects killed in legitimate operations, which he said totaled 3,171.

The PDEA chief reported that his agency conducted 64,397 anti-drug operations, which was 77 percent higher compared to the 36,466 operations of the previous administration.

He said drug personalities arrested numbered 86,984, a 364-percent increase compared to those arrested in the previous administration (18,766).

Lapeña further said that nine clandestine laboratories were destroyed, 152 drug dens dismantled, and 2,446 kilograms of shabu seized. The value of the shabu seized amounts to P12.62 billion, while drugs seized was a total of P82.52 billion.

Lapeña said PDEA has also cleared 3,677 drug-affected barangays since Duterte took office.

“This was done while we have concentrated or intensified ‘yung law enforcement function on illegal drugs, we have shifted also to the demand reduction,” he said.

He said barangay officials have been warned of possible liability for neglect or dereliction of duty if they will not help in the government’s anti-drugs campaign.

“There is no middle ground. Pagka ikaw pag barangay official ka you are supposed to know what is happening in your barangay. Hindi makakawala ‘yan,” Lapeña said. 

“Pagka sinabing hindi niya alam eh di mag-resign na lang siya na barangay official kung hindi niya alam kung may nangyayari sa kanyang barangay,” he added. — RSJ, GMA News