PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chair, Director General Wilkins M. Villanueva has cited the major role played by the Philippine National Police (PNP) in its effort to clear thousands of barangays in the country of drug influence since the start of the Duterte administration in July 2016.

Designated as the 7th PDEA chief by President Rodrigo Duterte on May 23, 2020, the grizzled ‘warrior’ from the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) ‘Maringal’ Class of 1988 thanked the PNP headed by General Guillermo Lorenzo T. Eleazar for helping them in their ‘drug-clearing’ operations in the country’s 42,045 barangays.

From July 1, 2016 to June 30 this year, the PDEA and the PNP have joined hands in clearing 22,461 barangays nationwide and are still working to clear the remaining 12,852 barangays this year. A barangay is declared ‘drug-cleared’ when it is certified by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), PDEA, PNP and local government units as free from drug dealers and users, drug laboratories and secret drug dives and other facilities as well as illegal drug activities.

Gen. Eleazar and Director General Villanueva said they are also highly convinced that the government’s war on drugs is a success based on the much improved peace and order situation in the streets and most importantly, the big number of barangays in the country which have been declared drug-cleared’ since July 2016.

“Our barometer as always will be the peace and order situation, the index crimes recorded during the first five years of the two previous administration compared to the index crimes recorded during the first five years of the Duterte administration,” the PNP chief said.

The PNP leadership has attributed the major reduction in index crimes to the campaign on drugs noting that before, majority of these crimes were committed by people high on drugs or are into illegal substance abuse.

Director General Villanueva also cited the very big number of barangays in the country which have been declared ‘drug-cleared’ as a major factor in their assertion that the Duterte administration’s war on drugs is a success.

“Itong droga ay talagang me role sa pagbaba ng krimen. Hindi man natin nasolve totally ang problema, we may also look at the number of barangays cleared. Besides, hindi lang naman pulis ang involved sa pagsupil ng droga, kasama namin diyan ang mga Local Government Units, ang iba’t ibang ahensiya ng gobyerno, ang aming mga stakeholders, ang mamamayan,” the PNP chief said.

Director General Villanueva said that official RealNumbersPH Year 5 record will show that out of the 42,045 barangays in the country, a total of 22,461 or more than 53 percent have been declared as ‘drug-cleared’ based on government parameters.

The remaining 12,852 barangays are yet to be ‘cleared’ to date although Villanueva expressed optimism they would be able to clear more by the end of the year.

“Isipin ninyo na out of the more than 42,000 barangays in the country, some 13,000 na lang ang affected ng droga, meaning me mga presence ng pushers and users but we are optimistic that by the end of the year, baka mabawasan pa kaya nga nagdo-double time kami,” the PDEA chief said.

A former police colonel, Villanueva was the PDEA Region 10 director in Northern Mindanao when he was appointed by President Duterte to lead the country’s lead anti-narcotics agency 14 months ago.

Villanueva said he was fortunate to be given the opportunity to discuss with the Commander-in-Chief his main strategy to win the war on drugs which is his Barangay Drug Clearing Program coupled with an intensified effort on supply, demand and harm reduction, all of which were approved by the President.

Villanueva said that since he became the PDEA chief, they have cleared a total of 1,790 barangays of illegal drug activities with the support of the PNP, local government units and other agencies.

The official said their Barangay PDEA Facebook Page have already gained more than 12,000 followers since last year, proof that their drug-clearing program is gaining ground.

Villanueva said amid the pandemic, they are still making huge progress in their effort to account for ‘high-value targets’ and shabu and other illegal drugs in the country.

From May 22, 2020 to date, PDEA agents have seized P7.56 billion worth of dangerous drugs and controlled chemicals. They include nearly 982 kilograms of shabu, 62,277 Ecstasy tablets and nearly 1.6 tons of dried marijuana leaves.

The Agency, supported by the PNP also managed to dismantle two major clandestine shabu laboratories in the country during the period: one located in Sta. Rosa City in Laguna where a Chinese shabu ‘chemist’ was arrested on June 30, 2020; and the 2nd in Olongapo City in Zambales last January where five suspects including four policemen were arrested.

The PDEA conducted 487 ‘high-impact operations’ during the period resulting in the arrest of 2,969 ‘HVTs’ including 36 elected officials, 13 uniformed personnel, 29 foreign nationals, 59 government employees, 47 drug group leaders and members, a clandestine laboratory worker, five armed drug group members, 777 ‘target-listed personalities, 18 wanted drug personalities, seven celebrities/professionals and 312 drug den maintainers.

The major drug hauls made by the PDEA, with the help of the PNP during the period are the following: 371 kilograms of shabu worth P2.52 billion seized from two top targets in General Trias, Cavite on June 11, 2020; 239.14 kilograms of shabu worth P1.62 billion confiscated from two ‘HVTs’ in Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija on October 30, 2020;

Nearly 36 kilograms of shabu worth around P244 million seized in Parañaque City on June 6 last year; nearly 22 kilograms of shabu valued at more than P148 million recovered from an ‘HVT’ in Lapu-Lapu City in Cebu on October 21, 2020; nearly 19 kilos of shabu worth P122.94 million confiscated from two ‘HVTs’ in Quezon City on July 20, 2020; and more than 18 kilograms of shabu worth nearly P123 million recovered from five ‘HVTs in Las Piñas City last April 14.

Villanueva said that during the past year, they have established 104 Balay Silangan Reformation Centers nationwide where 1,330 drug offenders are undergoing treatment and rehabilitation with the support of concerned LGUs.

Under his leadership, the PDEA also conducted 24 drug destruction ceremonies resulting in the burning of an estimated P28.83 billion worth of shabu, its controlled precursors and essential chemicals and laboratory equipment, shabu, cocaine and marijuana.

The seized drugs were destroyed thru thermal decomposition which is a process in which various compounds are broken down into single units by the application of heat wherein reconstruction of the substances is impossible.

The destruction of the drugs is in compliance with the guidelines set on the custody and disposition of seized dangerous drugs required in Section 21, Article II of Republic Act 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, and Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 1, Series of 2002 and as ordered by President Duterte to prevent the possibility of ‘recycling.’