MANILA — The Napolcom vice chairperson and executive officer, Alberto Bernardo, emphasized during a House hearing that the current administration’s approach to combating illegal drugs is centered on human rights.
He stated that they no longer refer to it as a “drug war” but rather as an “anti-illegal drug campaign” focused on law enforcement functions with a rights-based perspective.
Bernardo highlighted President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive, which prioritizes supply and demand reduction efforts alongside rehabilitation initiatives.
In response to concerns raised about alleged extrajudicial killings associated with previous drug war efforts, Bernardo assured lawmakers of Napolcom’s commitment to preventing the recurrence of such mistakes. Human rights lawyer Chel Diokno disclosed data indicating a significant number of drug-war-related deaths during the previous administration.
Contrastingly, under the Marcos administration, there have been substantial efforts in anti-illegal drug operations, resulting in numerous arrests, particularly of high-value targets. The government has diligently pursued legal action against these suspects, with a notable percentage resulting in convictions. Additionally, there has been a significant focus on rehabilitation programs for drug dependents, alongside measures to clear barangays from drug-related activities.
The PNP reported that the Marcos administration’s campaign against illegal drugs resulted in the seizure of almost PHP32 billion worth of illegal narcotics from July 1, 2022 to April 21, 2024.
(el Amigo/MNM)