123,648 arrested, 4,075 slain in ops

The government has kept the momentum of its war on illegal drugs, posting an increase in the numbers of drug personalities arrested, illegal drugs seized, and drug dens dismantled in recent months.

From July 1, 2016 to March 20, 2018, Philippine Drug En-

forcement Agency (PDEA) Director Derrick Carreon said law enforcement agencies have arrested 123,648 drug suspects and killed 4,075 others in a total of 91,704 anti-drug operations.

The PDEA and the Philippine National Police (PNP) gave the latest “real numbers,” including the results of its anti-drug operations, during a recent press briefing in Malacañang.

“We were able to sustain the momentum of the national anti-illegal drugs campaign by attacking the illegal drugs problem on two strategic fronts of supply reduction by hitting hard on high-value targets, traffickers and suppliers and demand reduction by persuasive dialogue with known drug personalities through Project Tokhang,” PNP spokesman Chief Supt. John Bulalacao said.

“Anti-drug operations conducted posted an increase of 6,636 or 7.8% compared to the data from the last period,” Carreon said referring to the figures posted last February.

“Drug personalities arrested increased by 2,561 or 2.12 percent while drug personalities who died during anti-drug operations increased by 54 or 1.34 percent,” he added.

Authorities also seized 2,620.5 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu worth 113.46 billion from, or an increase of 10.13 kilograms estimated 150.62 million since February.

Dangerous drugs and laboratory equipment estimated 119.67 billion have been confiscated during the same period, up by 168.82 million from February.

At least 189 illegal drug facilities composed of 180 drug dens and 9 shabu laboratories have also been dismantled in the same period, according to Carreon.

Since July, the government has arrested 469 government workers for violation of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. From this number, 199 were elected officials, 45 were uniformed personnel and 225 were government employees.

“Total government workers arrested posted an increase of 15 or 3.3%; elected officials posted an increase of 7 or 3.65%; while uniformed personnel posted an increase by 9 or 2.27%,” Carreon said.

Authorities have also rescued 649 minors from involvement in illegal drug activities, posting an increase of 31 or 5.02 percent.

Bulalacao said of the 2,467 drugrelated incidents recorded from July, 2016 to March, 2018, 715 cases have been solved or an increase of 76 cases from the last report in February. At least 1,752 are still under investigation.

He said the PNP was ready to provide the real drug numbers to the International Criminal Court (ICC) if authorized by Malacañang.

“On the part of the PNP, we will. Provided, there will be an approval from the higher office – in this case, the DILG or Malacañang. But just the same, a process should also be observed,” he said. The international court earlier declared that preliminary examination into the alleged crimes committed in the government’s drug war would continue despite the Philippines’ pullout from the Rome Statute that created the ICC.

Earlier, President Duterte withdrew the country’s membership from the ICC effective immediately due alleged violations of due process, among others.