The Philippine National Police (PNP) seized around P20.7 billion worth of illegal drugs in what it described as a bloodless anti-illegal drugs campaign in the country this year.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil said the P20.7 billion illegal drugs haul from Jan. 1 to Dec. 15 this year represents a 101 percent increase of the illegal drugs confiscated for the same period in 2023.
"This extraordinary achievement is a testament to our focused operations against high-value individuals in the illegal drug trade. Our commitment to a calibrated anti-drug campaign, which puts a premium on human rights, has proven that we can dismantle drug syndicates without unnecessary loss of life," said Marbil.
He said the eight metric tons of seized illegal drugs included methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu), marijuana, ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine, and kush, reflecting the diverse range of narcotics.
Marbil said the confiscation of illegal drugs was an offshoot of the 46,821 anti-drug operations conducted by various PNP units nationwide, adding that the operations lead to the arrest of 57,129 individuals.
Among the regions, Police Regional Office 4A (Calabarzon) recorded the highest haul with P9.9 billion worth of seized drugs, followed by the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) with P2.4 billion.
“The PNP's success reflects its renewed commitment to eradicating illegal drugs while adhering to legal and ethical standards, proving that decisive action can go hand-in-hand with respect for human rights,” said Marbil.
"This accomplishment is not just a victory for the PNP but for the Filipino people who deserve safer and drug-free communities. Let this achievement inspire us to continue working together in our fight against illegal drugs," he added.
Earlier, Marbil ordered the recalibration of the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign that focuses on supplies and with an instruction to make the operations bloodless as much as possible.
The order stemmed from the stand of President Marcos’ first Chief PNP, retired general Rodolfo Azurin, who expressed the belief that everybody deserves a second chance and that human rights must always be considered in the conduct of police operations.
The less bloody illegal drugs campaign stand is in contrast with the drug war launched by the Duterte administration which claimed the lives of more than 6,000 people aside from hundreds of innocent civilians , including children, who were caught in a crossfire and thousands more who died at the hands of drug war-inspired vigilante groups.