PDEA chief: More drug suspects get proper drug intervention but 13K barangays yet to be cleared

In the Duterte administration's last months of enforcing its anti-drug campaign, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Director General Wilkins Villanueva said Friday that more drug suspects have been given proper intervention.

At a press briefing, Villanueva and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar were asked about the status of the government's drug campaign.

"So nasaan na tayo? Malapit na tayo. Ang pagbaba ng influenced barangay, ang equivalent kasi nito is reduced also of commission of crime. Bumababa ang krimen dahil tumataas ang clearing natin ng barangay," Villanueva responded.

(Where are we? We're near. The decrease in the number of drug-influenced barangays is equivalent to crime reduction. Crime incidents decrease when the number of cleared barangays increases.)

"Dati, hindi napapansin ng gobyerno 'yung pagdami ng drug personalities, doon lang tayo parati sa supply reduction side. Huli, kulong, kumpiska. But right now, mas marami tayong nabibigyan ng proper drug intervention program para dito sa persons who use drugs," he added.

(Before, the government didn't notice the increase in drug personalities as it's focus was on the supply reduction side. But right now, a lot of drug suspects are being given proper drug intervention.)

The PDEA chief said more than 13,000 barangays are yet to be cleared from illegal drugs, out of a total of 42,000 barangays.

Villanueva said the supply of illegal drugs could continue so local governments should strengthen its rehabilitation programs for drug personalities.

For Eleazar, a lot must be done to eradicate illegal drugs. However, he assured the public that law enforcement agencies are doubling their efforts in its campaign.

"While it is true that lots have to be done, pero hindi naman tumitigil ang
ating mga concerned agencies like in the law enforcement, PDEA and PNP,
sa aming trabaho particularly law enforcement which addresses itong
problema rin on the supply side," Eleazar said.

(While it is true that lots have to be done, law enforcement agencies such as the PNP and PDEA did not stop in our law enforcement duties which also addresses the drug supply side.)

"Pero gusto natin sabihin sa lahat na this is a collaboration of all the sectors in the community (I would also like to say that addressing the drug problem is a collaboration of all sectors in the community)," he added.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año has said the anti-drug efforts can be sustained in the last 12 months of the Duterte administration.

At the time, he said at least 21,891 of 42,000 barangays have been cleared as drug-free barangays. Authorities have arrested 289,622 suspects including 12,089 high-value targets, he added.

At least 757 drug dens have also been dismantled while P58.21 billion worth of illegal drugs have been seized.

Government records also showed that 6,117 suspected drug suspects have been killed in sting operations, contrary to claims of critics and human rights groups that the slays have reached more than 20,000. -MDM, GMA News