By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday reiterated that the government will remain relentless in its “bloodless” fight against illegal drugs in the country, directing law enforcers to intensify operations against drug dealers.
In his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at Batasang Pambansa, Marcos highlighted the achievements of the administration on its drug war campaign—with P83 billion worth of illegal drugs seized and 153,000 suspects arrested in the past three years of his administration.
On the total number of suspects apprehended, the President said that over 9,600 of this number are high-value targets but also lamented that the figure also included around 677 government employees, 100 elected officials, and over 50 cops.
He also cited that large shipments of illegal and dangerous drugs were intercepted by authorities in Zambales, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Tondo in Manila City, Muntinlupa City, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Cebu, Batangas, Rizal, and Cavite.
In June, the Chief Executive personally witnessed the destruction of seized illegal drugs at a waste management facility in Capas, Tarlac, which included a large volume of “floating shabu” found by fisherfolk in various coastal towns in Luzon.
“Sa tatlong taon lamang, halos mapantayan na ang kabuuang huli noong nakaraang administrasyon,” he said. “Sa kabila ng mga ito, tila nagbabalikan daw ang mga pusher. Kaya, patuloy ang ating mga operasyon laban sa mga drug dealer, big-time man o small-time.”
Case of missing ‘sabungeros’
Marcos also vowed to hold accountable everyone involved in the case of the missing “sabungeros” amid an ongoing investigation behind the disappearances as well as the search and retrieval operations for bodies allegedly thrown in Taal Lake.
“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,” he said.
“Hahabulin at pananagutin natin ang mga utak at mga sangkot, sibilyan man o opisyal. Kahit malakas, mabigat, o mayaman, hindi sila mangingibabaw sa batas.”
Whistleblower Julie Patidongan previously named several police officers who were allegedly involved in the abduction of cockfighting enthusiasts.
According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), investigators are looking into the possible links of individuals allegedly behind the case of the missing sabungeros and extrajudicial killings (EJKs) during the past administration’s war on drugs.
“Higit sa lahat, ipararamdam natin sa mga salarin ang bigat ng parusa sa karumal-dumal na krimen na mga ito,” Marcos said.
Counter-insurgency efforts, support to ex-rebels
Despite no more active guerrilla groups remaining in the country, the Chief Executive instructed concerned government agencies to sustain counter-insurgency efforts to prevent the emergence of new rebel groups.
He also assured that insurgents who have returned to the fold of the law can benefit from reintegration and livelihood programs of the government.
The President also recognized the joint efforts of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), as well as former rebels, in maintaining peace and order in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
“Ang libo-libong mga nag-alsa dati laban sa pamahalaan, nagbagong-buhay na at nagbabalik-loob na. Tinataguyod natin kasama ang kanilang pamilya. Katuwang ang pribadong sektor, pinapaunlad din natin ang kanilang pamayanan, at naglalatag tayo ng mga daan, patubig, at marangal na hanapbuhay,” Marcos said.
“Bukod sa programang panghanapbuhay, nagpagawa tayo ng mga health stations, mga silid-aralan, mga water systems, streetlights, na ngayo’y napakikinabangan ng mahigit labintatlong milyong Pilipino na ngayon ligtas na mula sa kaguluhan,” he added.
-av
