Palace touts gains in Marcos Jr. campaign vs drugs

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang yesterday touted the gains of President Marcos’ anti-drug campaign, which differed from the previous Duterte administration’s controversial war on drugs.

In a statement, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said P10.41 billion worth of illegal drugs were seized in 2023 and 27,968 barangays were cleared of narcotics.

As of Dec. 27, 2023, there were 23 provinces, 447 municipalities and 43 cities that established their respective community-based drug rehabilitation programs.

Citing a Philippine National Police report, the PCO added that 56,495 suspects were arrested in more than 44,000 anti-illegal drug operations.

There were also 50 provinces, 1,160 municipalities and 30 cities with “functional” anti-drug abuse councils at the local level while 74 in-patient treatment and rehabilitation facilities were also established.“The recent government successes were under President Marcos’ new approach to address illegal drugs by focusing on rehabilitation, reintegration, and preventive education programs specifically for the youth,” the PCO said.
Marcos’ predecessor, former president Rodrigo Duterte, had launched a bloody crackdown on illegal drugs. More than 6,000 suspected drug offenders were killed under the controversial campaign, which drew criticism from human rights groups.

Duterte had insisted he would only face cases before a Philippine court after complaints were filed before the International Criminal Court.

In a September 2022 speech delivered in New York, Marcos said there is a need to “learn lessons” from the previous administration’s experience, noting that enforcement “only gets you so far.”

In May 2023, Marcos acknowledged that “abuses” were committed in the previous administration’s anti-drug campaign.

He added that syndicates “have grown stronger and wealthier and more influential.”