MANILA, Philippines — On Wednesday, Rep. Robert Ace Barbers of Surigao del Norte's 2nd District praised the current administration's approach to combating illegal drugs as more effective and humane compared to past efforts. He highlighted that under President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the campaign has successfully avoided extrajudicial killings while achieving its goals.
According to Philippines News Agency, who also chairs the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs, the shift from a violent to a nonviolent drug enforcement strategy has ended law enforcement abuses. "The previous campaign was like a 'blind flick' that created many orphaned families, where suspects of drug offenses were often denied due process," he stated. Official records cite that 6,229 drug-related suspects were killed in extrajudicial killings as of March 2022, while human rights groups claim the figure exceeded 20,000 during the previous administration.
President Marcos, differing from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte's harsh tactics, has emphasized prevention and rehabilitation over "extermination." During his third State of the Nation Address on Monday, Marcos reiterated his commitment to upholding a just and effective anti-drug policy, expressly excluding extermination from his strategy.
Barbers also highlighted the achievements of the current policy, noting that law enforcement agencies have conducted 71,500 operations, resulting in the seizure of PHP44 billion worth of illegal drugs and the arrest of 97,000 individuals, including 6,000 high-value targets. Moreover, the campaign has led to the freezing of over PHP500 million in assets from suspected major drug traffickers and achieved a 79 percent conviction rate against those charged with drug offenses in court.
The representative further mentioned ongoing efforts in the Lower House to amend the Republic Act 9165, or the Dangerous Drugs Act, to address its shortcomings and close loopholes, thus enhancing the government's capability to tackle drug protectors, coddlers, and financiers.
Barbers urged anti-drug authorities to prioritize 'supply reduction' over 'demand reduction' to more effectively counter the drug trade, which was estimated to be worth between USD6.4 billion and USD8.4 billion annually in a 2010 report by the US International Narcotics Control Strategy. He emphasized the need for updated strategies to combat the extensive and growing illegal drug business in the Philippines.