PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil has aired his intention to pursue a tougher campaign against substance abuse in the country and is pushing for a 100 percent drug-free Philippines.

However, he said he doesn’t want their continuing campaign to be associated with the ‘bloody war on drugs’ associated with the previous Duterte administration and instead, wants his men to ‘always go for the rule of law’ as they carry out their job.

The 30th PNP chief said they are also fully mobilizing the PNP Directorate for Police-Community Relationship headed by Major Gen. Edgar Alan O. Okubo and the citizenry’s support in their effort to prevent substance abuse particularly among the youth.

Marbil has underscored his commitment to having 100 percent drug-free communities in the country.

“Pero wala po tayong giyera dito. Gusto po natin ay pababain ang problema. Pero I don’t want to say drug war since it connotes a negative impression,” he explained.

The PNP earlier said it has ordered the investigation of a number of Davao City policemen accused of killing suspected drug dealers in Davao City after Mayor Sebastian Duterte ordered an ‘all-out war on drugs’ in the city.

Gen. Marbil did not say what he had told Police Regional Office 11 director, Brigadier Gen. Alden B. Delvo about the matter.

But he emphasized that he wants ‘accountability and responsibility’ on every operation being conducted by his men.

“Lahat kami all-out sa drugs, yun ang trabaho namin pero there’s no need for us to declare a war on drugs. Kahit sinong Chief PNP gusto naming 100 percent drug-free ang communities,” he said.

He said that there is also no reason to compare the drug problem, say in Metro Manila, to the drug problem in another region like Eastern Visayas.

“Hindi po dapat itanong kung bakit mas marami ang huli sa NCR compared to Region 8. Dapat mas specific tayo kung saan mas maraming drugs, kung ilan ba talaga ang umiikot na drugs sa area mo, doon tayo magfocus,” he said.

President Marcos earlier said that his administration’s approach to the illegal drug problem had “changed significantly as he maintained he was “diametrically opposed” to the use of violence in fighting illegal drugs.

Early this year, the PNP and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency headed by Director General Moro Virgilio M. Lazo agreed to step up their partnership to clear the over 7,500 drug-affected barangays in the country this year, the Journal Group learned.

The move is part of the government’s effort to ensure that the Philippines will finally become a ‘drug-free country’ under the President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration.

On orders of Marcos Jr., the PNP and the PDEA will be fully relying on each other to address the problem.

The President earlier congratulated the PNP, PDEA, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) for their consolidated effort to clear 27,968 barangays of illegal drug activities from July 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023.

A group of officials from the PNP-DPCR and Directorates for Operations, Intelligence and Investigation and Detective Management led by Maj. Gen. Okubo recently met with Director General Lazo to strengthen their cooperation and partnership to attain their vision of having ‘Drug-Free Communities by 2029 under the Buhay ay Ingatan, Droga’ys Ayawan (BIDA) program of the Department of Interior and Local Government headed by Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos Jr.

Lazo proposed the conduct of a national seminar-workshop enjoining concerned and relevant agencies to come up with an updated national list to revalidate the National Drugs Information System, develop further cooperation among agencies, develop responsive protocols on the conduct of various operations and many others.

He also encouraged close and direct coordination among subordinate officers without seeking bureaucratic protocols that hampers prompt actions.

Following the PNP team’s courtesy call on Lazo, the officials agreed to hold a monthly meeting of the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing Program (ROCBDP) to be initiated by PNP and PDEA Regional Directors to ensure that issues and concerns about the program are promptly addressed.

From January 1 to December 31, 2023, the PNP conducted 44,426 anti-narcotics operations in which only 113 armed suspects were killed in gun battles with officers.

The government said 74 established in-patient treatment and rehabilitation facilities were also put up last year to help treat drug dependents.