MANILA — Describing the first two years of the anti-drug war as a resounding success, government authorities underscored the need to focus more on the rehabilitation of drug dependents as the #RealNumbersPH campaign entered its second year.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) made this observation as the government campaign turned a year older in providing accurate information about the anti-illegal drugs campaign which President Rodrigo Duterte launched right after he took his oath of office on June 30, 2016.
“We will provide more assistance in the rehabilitation of drug dependents who wanted to have a new life,” National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Camilo Pancratius Cascolan told the Philippine News Agency.
Cascolan said the national police will continue to strengthen the enforcement of drug prohibition laws and at the same time give second chances to qualified drug dependents who want to start anew with their lives.
Cascolan added that they will also focus on cases which are already being litigated in courts.
“Mas paiigtingin pa ang pag-enforce ng batas sa illegal na droga, tututukan natin ang mga kasong nakasampa na, tutulong tayo sa rehabilitasyon ng mga gustong magbagong buhay at paiigtigin ang pag imbestiga sa mga opisyal ng gobyerno na sangkot,” Cascolan said Wednesday.
Safer streets
On Tuesday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the increase of street prices of illegal drugs particularly “shabu” or methamphetamine proves the success of the war on drugs.
“You know, illegal drugs now are very expensive. It means it (war on drugs) is a resounding success,” Roque said in a press briefing in Bontoc, Mountain Province.
Roque believed that Filipinos recognize that communities have now become peaceful due to the anti-narcotics campaign.
The PDEA, for its part, opened two community-based reformation centers aimed at rehabilitating drug offenders in the provinces of Saranggani and Nueva Ecija.
The initiative aims to boost PDEA’s efforts to make 26,000 barangays throughout the country free from illegal drugs.
United efforts
Communications Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag, for her part, highlighted how efforts of different state agencies sustained the #RealNumbersPH campain.
“We’re happy that it’s not just the government who’s conscious about this event, because these numbers are even used outside the country. When you talk about how many operations were conducted, how many were accidentally killed in operations, they know that it’s Real Numbers. And it’s a concerted effort by state agencies,” she said in a mix of English and Filipino.
According to #RealNumbersPH data, the 99,485 anti-drug operations conducted from July 1, 2016 to May 15 this year have resulted in the arrest of 143,335 drug personalities.
As of May 15, law enforcers have arrested 241 government employees, 217 elected officials and 48 uniformed personnel.
The value of seized shabu has ballooned to 2,678.61 kilos amounting to PHP14.34 billion.
Meanwhile, the total number of dismantled dens and clandestine laboratories climbed to 192.
According to the PNP Internal Affairs Service, a total of 189,816 drug surrenderers have graduated from PNP Recovery and Wellness Program.
Duterte has repeatedly declared that he will not stop his crackdown against illegal drugs that resulted in the killing of 4,279 drug personalities in legitimate police operations. (PNA)
