The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has posted significant accomplishments in its anti-narcotics operations, one month after President Rodrigo Duterte declared it as the lead law enforcement unit to wage war against illegal drugs.
PDEA conducted a total of 1,341 anti-drug operations from October 10 to November 10 this year, resulting in the arrest of 404 drug personalities and the seizure of dangerous drugs worth PHP53.83 million.
PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino attributed the achievement to the shift of the agency’s operational thrusts to reduce the number of high-value targets through the conduct of high-impact and quality counter-drug operations.
“This is 80.5 percent more than the operations conducted in the previous month. As a result, a 14.4 percent increase in the number of arrested drug personalities was recorded,” Aquino said.
The total value of dangerous drugs and controlled precursors and essential chemicals (CPECs) seized during the period posted a 233.3 percent increase compared to the preceding month.
“Out of the seized drug evidence, 6.16 kilograms are methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, with an estimated street value of P30.8 million, as compared to the shabu seizure of 1.87 kilograms worth P9,350,000, confiscated last month, an increase of 229.4 percent,” Aquino added.
Aquino said PDEA is cognizant of the challenges posed by the enormity of the country’s drug problem in the Implementation of Republic Act 9165 otherwise known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Act of 2002.
“Though undermanned, under-equipped and inadequately funded, PDEA will deliver tangible results, even more than is expected of us,” he added.
The PDEA chief assured the public of a ‘less bloody’ anti-drug war and the adherence to the rule of law in performing its mandate.
“From body-worn cameras to accompanying media presence, these would ensure a culture of transparency in our day-to-day operations in the streets,” he said.
