Marcos says P83-billion drug bust haul so far close to entire Duterte term’s total

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos, Jr. on Monday said that the P83 billion worth of illegal drugs seized during his term so far is almost the same amount of illegal drugs seized during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte.

“Sa mga isinagawang pagsakote sa mga bodega't laboratoryo, at tangkang pagpasok, halos walumpu't tatlong bilyong pisong halaga ng droga ang nakumpiska. Kamakailan lamang, may mga malalaking kargamento na nagkakahalaga ng bilyon-bilyon ang nasabat natin sa Zambales, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Tondo, Muntinlupa, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Cebu, Batangas, Rizal, at Cavite,” Marcos said during his fourth State of the Nation Address.

“Sa tatlong taon lamang, halos mapantayan na ang kabuuang huli noong nakaraang administrasyon,” Marcos added.

(In the raids on warehouses and laboratories, almost P83 billion worth of illegal drugs have been confiscated. Just recently we seized large shipments worth billions...In just three years, we have nearly matched the drug bust haul of the past administration.)

Marcos added that the government’s anti-drug operations have resulted in the arrest of 53,000 suspects, including some 9,000 high-value targets. These include 677 government officials, of whom 100 are elected officials while 50 others are police officers.

Still, the President said that the battle against illegal drugs and other crimes, such as the case of missing sabungeros, is far from over.

“Patuloy ang ating mga operasyon laban sa mga drug dealer, big-time man o small-time. Ang puwersa ng ating kapulisan ay nagbabantay at rumuronda para nararamdaman ng taumbayan,” Marcos said.

(Our anti-drug operations continue and the police are always on standby, protecting our communities.)

“Nagtutulungan ang buong pamahalaan para lutasin ang mga kaso ng mga nawawala dahil sa walang pakundangang kagagawan ng mga sindikato sa likod ng madilim na mundo ng mga sabungan. Hahabulin at pananagutin natin ang mga utak at mga sangkot, sibilyan man o opisyal. Kahit malakas, mabigat, o mayaman, hindi sila mangingibabaw sa batas,” Marcos added.

(The government is all hands on deck in addressing the case of the missing sabungeros. We will go after the masterminds, civilians or officials alike. Whether they are rich or influential, they will not prevail over rule of law.) — BM, GMA Integrated News