About 80% of crimes committed in ASEAN traced to use of illegal drugs

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY -- About 80 percent of crimes committed in member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were committed by perpetrators under the influence of illegal drugs. 

This was disclosed by Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) Director General Gregorio Pio P. Catapang Jr. said on Monday, Feb. 17.  He said the issue cropped up during the ASEAN Regional Correctional Conference (ARCC) held in Puerto Princesa City from Feb. 14 to 16.

“What we learned from this seminar is we are all similarly situated when it comes to drug problem,” Catapang said. 

During the high-level meetings among corrections officials from ASEAN states, Catapang learned that “70 to 80 percent of crimes committed were under the influence of drugs.”

He said that during the ARCC, one of the countries shared that it is currently implementing home imprisonment to persons who committed small offenses.

“Parang binabalik na lang sa pamilya because maliit lang naman yung offense. So to avoid prison congestion, ibabalik lang sa pamilya (They will return the person to the family if its a small offense. So to avoid prison congestion, the person could be returned to the family),” he said.

He explained: "Halimbawa ikaw nahuli ka, hindi ka naman nagtutulak, nahulihan ka lang na meron drugs…imbes na ikulong ka sa prisinto, dalhin ka na agad sa rehab (if you got arrested for drug possession, instead of taking you to prison, they just take you to drug rehabilitation center).”

"Pag napatunayan na natin hindi na s’ya addict, naka-overcome na s’ya sa addiction, ibalik na lang sa pamilya. Pabantayan na lang sa pamilya and then bantayan na ng pamilya, community, barangay (Once the person has been found no longer addicted to drugs, the person has overcome addiction, the person can be returned to the family. Let the family, community, barangay watch over that person),” he said.

He also bared plans to push for the use of the already existing Mega Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (MDATRC) located in Army base of Fort Ramon Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija.

Following the ARCC, Catapang said the BuCor will submit a report and recommendation to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

The next ARCC is set to be held in Thailand in 2026.

During this year’s ARCC, Catapang said he and other correction officials of ASEAN have agreed to hold the ARCC every two years after 2026.