PDEA: 29K of 42K barangays cleared from illegal drugs

A total of 29,390 out of 42,002 barangays in the country were cleared from illegal drugs, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Friday.

In a press conference, PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez shared the accomplishments of the agency including the number of barangays that were declared as drug-cleared.

Drug-cleared barangays are classified as previously drug-affected, subjected to Barangay Drug Clearing Program (BDCP), and declared cleared.

A total of 320 areas were tagged as “unaffected” or barangays that have never been plagued or beset by persons who use drugs, pushers, drug den maintainers, and other illegal drug activities.

The PDEA also reported 6,179 barangays declared as “drug-free,” which means these areas are unaffected barangays that have been vetted and confirmed by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC).

However, a total of 6,113 barangays are still considered “drug-affected.”

Nerez said the “favorite market” for illegal drugs is still Metro Manila.

For transshipment and storage of illegal drugs, he said the PDEA is watching out for areas in Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“It boils down kung saan ang source ng droga natin ngayon. Yes, we are confident in saying na galling pa rin outside. It's a foreign source,” Nerez said.

(It boils down to where the source of our drugs. Yes, we are confident in saying that it is still coming from outside. It's a foreign source.)

“Kaya nga pinaigting natin ang interdiction operation natin dyan sa mga ports, seaports, and airports. And of course, yung mga partnership natin sa Philippine Coast Guard at Philippine National Police doon naman sa offshore delivery,” he added.

(That's why we have intensified our interdiction operations at ports, seaports, and airports. And of course, our partnerships with the Philippine Coast Guard and Philippine National Police for offshore delivery.)

From January 1 to March 31, PDEA and other agencies conducted a total of 10,161 operations that resulted in the arrest of 13,497 persons and the seizure of P6.90 billion worth of illegal drugs.

The PDEA said among the government’s major drug hauls during the first quarter of 2025 were:

• 404.95 kilograms of shabu were seized at the Port of Manila on January 23, 2025;
• 25 kilograms of shabu were seized that resulted in the arrest of two drug personalities at Pier 5, Cebu City on January 23, 2025;
• 20.89 kilograms of marijuana kush were seized at the Manila International Container Port, Tondo, Manila on March 7, 2025;
• Seizure of 49.71 kilograms of shabu that resulted in the arrest of two drug personalities during a buy-bust operation on March 14, 2025 in Muntinlupa City;
• Confiscation of 39.86 kilograms of shabu resulting in the arrest of one drug personality during a buy-bust operation in Binangonan, Rizal on March 19, 2025;
• 119.93 kilograms of shabu were seized that resulted in the arrest of one drug personality at the Port of Calapan, Oriental Mindoro on March 21, 2025;
• 31.28 kilograms of shabu and 2.24 grams of ecstasy were seized that resulted in the arrest of one foreign national on March 21, 2025 in Bacoor, Cavite; and
• Seizure of 19.95 kilograms of shabu and the arrest of four drug personalities in Baguio City following a buy-bust operation on March 25, 2025.

— BAP, GMA Integrated News