The Drug Enforcement Group of the Philippine National Police (PNP-DEG) seized almost P44 million worth of illegal drugs and arrested 63 people in a series of operations in the month of November this year.
PNP-DEG director Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta said a total of 62 operations, including 36 buy-busts and marijuana eradication operations, were carried out last month as part of the implementation of the anti-illegal drugs strategic operations.
The operations, he said, led to the confiscation of almost five kilos of shabu; 230 milliliters of marijuana oil; 46,800 fully grown marijuana plants, and 6,311 grams of dried marijuana.
“These achievements align with the PNP’s recalibrated Anti-Illegal Drug Campaign Roadmap 2024-2028 which enhances the PNP’s strategies against illegal drugs while maintaining a humane and rights-based approach,” said Matta.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil earlier ordered police commanders to ensure that the conduct of anti-illegal drugs will strictly follow the human rights law and police operational procedures.
The order is part of the less bloody drug war that the Marcos administration implemented in July 2022 amid criticisms on how the anti-illegal drugs campaign was carried out by the past administration.
More than 6,000 illegal drugs personalities, almost all of them were suspected drug users and street-level drug pushers, died in police operations. This does not include innocent civilians, including children, who died after being caught in crossfire.
Thousands more died at the hands of drug war-inspired vigilante groups.
“This roadmap draws on the hard-earned lessons from the past, acknowledging the sacrifices of thousands of police officers who bore the brunt of enforcement efforts, many of whom demonstrated unparalleled heroism in the line of duty,” Marbil, referring to the new strategy on drug war, said.