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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Nearly 6 years into drug war: PDEA says 24K baranggays now 'drug-cleared', 11K more under surveillance

Nearly 6 years into drug war: PDEA says 24K baranggays now 'drug-cleared', 11K more under surveillance

Published Feb 1, 2022 03:04 pm

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency PDEA) disclosed Tuesday, Feb. 1, that 24,253 barangays in the country are now considered as "drug-cleared" areas as the Duterte administration's controversial anti-illegal drug campaign approaches its remaining months.

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Based on the latest "Real Numbers" tally released by PDEA, the drug-cleared villages were covered by various anti-illegal drug operations from July 1, 2016 to Dec. 11, 2021.

A total of 11,175 barangays have yet to be cleared and are still under close monitoring by the PDEA. Before becoming the Chief Executive in 2016, President Duterte vowed to end the country's drug woes in three to six months.

PDEA spokesperson Derrick Carreon explained that drug-cleared areas are barangays that are considered "free" from illegal drug activities after passing the validation of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD).

A barangay is considered drug-cleared if there is an absence of drug supply, drug transit activity, clandestine drug laboratory and chemical warehouse, marijuana cultivation site, drug den, drug pushers and users in the area.

Carreon cited that the Barangay Drug Abuse Councils (BADACs) played a crucial role in the success of the implementation of the illegal drug campaign as envisioned by President Duterte.

In partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), PDEA conducted the training/orientation of the local government units (LGUs) in the country on the measures and indicators that are prerequisites before a barangay can be classified as drug-free.

In the same PDEA report, a total of 14,240 high-value targets (HVTs) were arrested by law enforcers nationwide.

The numbers include 6,255 HVTs arrested from high impact operations, 3,937 target-listed suspects, 1,474 drug den maintainers, 797 drug group leaders/members, 517 government employees, 395 elected officials, 349 foreigners, 291 included on wanted lists, 126 uniformed personnel, 75 armed group members and 24 prominent personalities.

Authorities also arrested 323,579 individuals involved in illegal drugs during the said period.

The consolidated reports as of Dec. 31, 2021 also showed that 6,225 drug suspects have died during 224,215 anti-illegal drug operations.

In the same period, authorities arrested 4,110 minors broken down into 2,440 pushers, 970 possessors, 439 users, 230 visitors of drug den, nine drug den maintainers, 17 drug den employees, two cultivators, one clan lab employee and two runners.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported that the rescued minors after being subjected to court proceedings will be turned over to the Bahay Pag-asa centers of LGUs within eight hours of police custody before handed over to DSWD.

Since they are minors, the DSWD said they would not be put behind bars together with hardened criminals.

In the same report, authorities dismantled a total of 993 drug dens and 18 clandestine shabu laboratories while various illegal drugs worth P75 billion were seized which included P63 billion worth of methaphetamine hydrochloride or "shabu."

Related Tags

high value targets drug den dismantled drrick carreon drug cleared barangays PDEA
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