Marcos says 177 NCR cops facing drug raps

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. said Tuesday that 177 police officers have been charged with drug-related offenses in Metro Manila under his administration.

"Alam naman natin na kung minsan, nadadala ang ating mga opisyal at siyempre hindi natin maaaring pabayaan 'yan. Kaya't ang nangyari, 177 police officers were charged with drug-related offenses, including the planting of evidence, unlawful arrest and excessive violence dito pa lang sa NCR," Marcos said in a video message.

(We know that sometimes our officers got involved and we will not ignore that. So, 177 police officers were charged with drug-related offenses, including the planting of evidence, unlawful arrest and excessive violence just here in NCR.)

"We are now pursuing 151,818 court cases by the DOJ (Department of Justice) in 2022, to 2023 with 121,582, naikulong na (they have been jailed)," he added.

Marcos said the figures are not just good numbers but it also showed the improvement when it comes to the administration's fight against illegal drugs.
 
"Para sa amin hindi lang 'to sa mga magagandang numero kung hindi ay talagang magiging improvement. Pinaganda talaga natin ang komunidad natin, pinapaganda talaga natin ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan, at iniiwas natin ang mga kabataan natin diyan sa pagpasok sa lifestyle ng drug-taking," Marcos said.

(These are not just good numbers, but it also shows improvement. We are really improving our communities, the lives of our kababayans, and we are discouraging the youth from getting involved in illegal drugs.)

The Marcos administration has seized around P10.41 billion worth of illegal drugs from January to December 2023. According to the President, authorities were able to clear more than 27,000 barangays from illegal drugs.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier said that aside from confiscating large volume of illegal drugs, it has arrested 56,495 drug suspects after conducting more than 44,000 anti-illegal drug operations.

Marcos has since pushed for a whole-of-nation approach in dealing with drug abuse, indicating that it could lead to chronic illness and social issues if left untreated.

He said the approach should include prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and law enforcement to ensure the implementation of the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drug Strategy.

Marcos previously said that his administration would focus on rehabilitation to curb the drug menace, unlike his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte's bloody war against drugs which sought largely to eradicate its illegal trade. — VDV, GMA Integrated News