(Eagel News) — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported on Wednesday that over 5,000 barangays in the country have already been declared drug-free under the administration’s anti-drug campaign since July 1, 2016 up to February 8, 2018.
PDEA Spokesperson Derrick Carreon said in a press briefing that the 5,327 barangays were out of the 24, 137 drug-affected barangays which represent 57.42% of the 42,036 barangays nationwide.
According to Carreon, this was the result of the intensified anti-drug operations and efforts by the Philippine National Police (PNP), PDEA, and other law enforcement agencies.
Carreon also said that PDEA and other law-enforcement agencies have conducted a total of 85,068 anti-drug operations since July 2016 up to the present, resulting in the arrest of 121,087 drug personalities.
He also reported that a total of 454 government workers were arrested nationwide for violation of Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drug Act of 2002.
He said out of this number, 192 were elected officials, 44 were uniformed personnel and 218 were government employees.
During the period, he said there were 4,021 drug personalities who died during anti-drug operations.
PNP Spokesperson Police Chief Supt. John Bulalacao said the campaign has so far yielded more than 1.3 million drug personalities who chose to voluntarily surrender instead.
According to Carreon, a total of 618 minors have been rescued from involvement in illegal drug activities.
He added that PDEA and other law enforcement agencies dismantled a total of 188 illegal drug facilities composed of 179 drug dens and nine shabu laboratories.
The anti-drug operations conducted also resulted in the seizure or confiscation of 2,610.37 kg of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu worth P13.41 billion, which is a P166.62 million increase from the figure recorded on January 17, 2018.
He said the agency has also confiscated dangerous drugs chemical and laboratory equipment worth P19.61 billion, posting an increase of P269.74 million since January.
According to Carreon, 87 law enforcers were killed, while 227 were wounded in action in the performance of their duties.
Less bloody Oplan Tokhang
Bulalacao said the PNP remains optimistic with the prospect of less bloody anti-drug operations this time around because of the issuance of supplemental operational guidelines.
“These supplemental guidelines are essentially founded on the fundamental principles of respect for human rights and stick adherence to the rule of law, with greater emphasis on transparency, accountability, and command responsibility,” he said.
According to the PNP, the reported 53 casualties in the drug war since December last year prove better execution by the law enforcers.
“So far, nagiging maayos naman ang kampanya ng Philippine National Police laban sa illegal na droga at kung inyong mapapansin, comparing with the previous Oplan of the PNP, mas mababa na ngayon ang recorded deaths in so far as anti-drug campaign is concerned,” Bulalacao pointed out.