By Christine Cudis/ PNA
MANILA — Members of the anti-illegal drug task force have taken up the challenge of President Rodrigo Duterte to cut the number of illegal drug users by eight million.
“We take it as a decision-making tool, a challenge to perform even better and conduct more operations,” Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency spokesperson Derrick Carreon said in a #RealNumbers press briefing on Thursday.
President Duterte’s pronouncement is an increase from the previous four million in 2017.
National Bureau of Investigation Director Ferdinand Lavin said the estimate is a guide for the agencies involved in the anti-illegal drug campaign, so it is still open to changes as the operation is ongoing.
“When the President first made the estimate when he assumed office in 2016, the basis for the estimate was limited in number. The President is a good strategist, he is trying to challenge us,” Lavin said.
He added that this is an indication that the operations are improving, noting that with every arrested person involved in illegal drugs, others “players” in the criminal activity are uncovered.
“The arrested addicts that provide information is a key contributor to the rise of the number,” he added.
Since July 2016 to January 2019, there are already 119, 841 anti-drug operations conducted with the value of seized drugs and laboratory equipment placed at PHP25.94 billion.
