THE Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) accounted for the bulk of more than P21.7 billion worth of shabu and its chemical precursors and other prohibited substances seized by the Marcos administration from July 1, 2022 to last April 30 alone, the Journal Group learned yesterday.

PNP chief, General Benjamin C. Acorda Jr. earlier expressed confidence that the year-old Marcos administration is winning its war on drugs.

“At the rate PNP anti-illegal drug operations are getting underway, I can confidently say that the whole of government is winning the national campaign against illegal drugs,” the top cop said.

Acorda said that from January 1 to last May 19 alone, police hauled to jail a total of 23,395 drug personalities following the conduct of 17,668 anti-narcotics operations which led to the confiscation of an estimated P4.76 billion.

PDEA chair, Director General Moro Virgilio M. Lazo said their records show that from July 1, 2022 to last April 30 or over an eight-month period, the Marcos government accounted for nearly 2.973 tons of shabu or the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine,’ 13.53 kilograms of cocaine, 43,928 pieces of the designer drug called Ecstasy and over 2.4 tons of dried marijuana leaves.

Lazo said that during the period, a total of 3,169 ‘high-value targets were among the nearly 45,000 drug personalities apprehended by agents of the PDEA, PNP and other allied law enforcement agencies.

He said that since President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ R. Marcos Jr. took over the presidency on June 30, 2022, anti-narcotics officers have also dismantled one clandestine drug laboratory and smashed a total of 527 secret drug dives.

The PDEA chief also said that the arrests and seizures were made as a result of 32,225 anti-narcotics operations conducted by government agents during the period in review.

Last April, the PDEA led the destruction of 3.7 tons of the recovered drugs, the most number of dangerous drugs and Controlled Precursors and Essential Chemicals (CPECs) worth around P20 billion.

The seized drug evidence were destroyed by thermal decomposition or thermolysis which involves breaking down chemical compounds using extreme heat at the Integrated Waste Management Inc. in Trece Martires City in Cavite.

The recovered drugs were destroyed in compliance with the guidelines on the disposition of seized narcotics under Republic Act 9165 or The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 and Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 1, Series of 2002, which were all aimed at preventing the possibility of so-called ‘drug recycling.’

Acorda has ordered his men to go after top drug personalities across the country amid their intensified crackdown on illegal drug trafficking and abuse.

Two weeks ago, two ‘high-value targets’ in Calabarzon were arrested in a buy-bust operation in Calamba City which resulted in the seizure of nearly 28 kilograms of high-grade shabu valued at around P191.7 million.

Laguna Police Provincial Office director, Colonel Randy Glenn G. Silvio identified the arrested suspects as Donna Mateo Gali, a 37-year old resident of Block 25, Lot 5, Tennessee Subdivision in Barangay San Pablong Nayon in Sto. Tomas City, Batangas; and John Erwin Cadilińa alias ‘Erwin,,37, a driver residing at 233 Larino Street, Bgy. Lecheria, Calamba City.

The official said the two were arrested in a sting in Bgy. Makiling conducted by undercover officers from the Calamba City Police Station Drug Enforcement Unit.

Recovered during the initial buy-bust operation were a heat-sealed plastic sachet containing 25 grams of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ and the P60,000 buy-bust money topped by two marked P1,000 bills.

Silvio said the suspect’s Toyota Hi-Ace Van (DAU 4569) yielded 29 plastic self-sealing plastic packets containing 27.775 kilos of shabu worth P191,647,000, a weighing scale and P8,000 in different denominations.

In Metro Manila, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, Major Gen. Edgar Alan O. Okubo commended his men for accounting for nearly P50 million worth of shabu last month.

Officers of the Southern Police District under Brigadier Gen. Kirby John B. Kraft arrested Jonnie Romo,41, during a sting in Bgy. San Dionisio in Parañaque City which resulted in the confiscation of some P3,450 grams of the so-called ‘poor man’s cocaine’ worth P23 million.

Northern Police District director, Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio I. Peñones Jr. also commended the Caloocan City Police Station headed by Colonel Ruben B. Lacuesta for arresting two ‘HVT’s identified as Edgardo Vargas,42; and Lenard Buenaventura,20, who yielded nearly P25.9 million worth of shabu and a gun during a sting in Bgy. 160 last Saturday.

Criminal charges for violation of RA 9165 have been filed against the suspects who are now being held in different police-lock-up facilities or Bureau of Jail Management and Penology-run detention centers.

The PNP chief also said that police units nationwide continue to operations against big-time drug pushers and street-level drug personalities.

The PNP Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) headed by Brig. Gen. Faro Antonio D. Olaguera and the Regional and Provincial Drug Enforcement Units of the 17 Police Regional Offices and their respective Provincial, City and Municipal DEUs are tasked to go after known big-time drug traffickers and other ‘high-value targets’ in the country.

Acorda has vowed to sustain the PNP’s massive anti-illegal drugs campaign and internal cleansing program as he cited the force’s success in accounting for nearly P6 billion worth of shabu and other prohibited substances since the year started.

During the period, the PNP has conducted over 16,000 anti-illegal drug operations which led to the arrest of more than 21,000 drug offenders, many of them engaged in drug trafficking activities, he said.

He added that the operations resulted in the confiscation of illegal drugs valued at over P5.8 billion.

Acorda said those are big accomplishments in their campaign against illegal drugs.

“We will continue to be aggressive in all our operations against big- time drug personalities or High-value Individuals (HVIs),” he emphasized.

“All this shows the PNP’s strong commitment to slow down if not put an end to the illegal drug trade. Under my leadership, I will assure the public that the PNP will remain steadfast in its commitment to protect the Filipino people and rid the country of the drug menace. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that our communities are safe and secure,” Acorda added.

The PNP chief maintained that their efforts have been highly effective in ensuring that those involved in illegal drugs are brought to justice. The top cop also underscored the need to address the root causes of illegal drug use in the country thru an honest-to-goodness demand reduction and rehabilitation.

He said they are also fully supporting President Marcos’ commitment to continue the crackdown on illegal drugs but within the framework of the law and with respect for human rights.

The Commander-in-Chief has also maintained the need to focus on the aspect of rehabilitation and socio-economic development of drug patients.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Alfred P. Dalizon