We in PDEA consider the effort as a solution as reflected in the majority of the Filipinos who are satisfied in the conduct of the war on drugs.

Government agencies involved in the anti-narcotics drive have assailed Vice President Leni Robredo for being out of touch with the government’s campaign after she demanded that the war on drugs be stopped since it was a failure.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) both decried Robredo’s remarks that they described as inconsistent with the 80 percent of Filipinos who supported President Rodrigo Duterte’s program based on a recent survey.

PDEA director general Aaron Aquino disputed, in a radio interview, Robredo’s assessment of the campaign as a failure. “We in PDEA consider the effort as a solution as reflected in the majority of the Filipinos who are satisfied in the conduct of the war on drugs,” he said.

Based on a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, eight out of 10 Filipinos backed the government’s drive.

“If we stop this effort, we will be back to zero. At this time, we have seized illegal drugs worth P36 billion and many (drug traffickers and dependents) have surrendered,” he explained.

The PDEA engaged in more than 125,000 operations that resulted in 200,000 arrests which, in effect, cleared 15,000 barangays throughout the country from the illegal drugs menace, according to Aquino.

“We can’t just allow these barangays to be reaffected; instead, we need to intensify the campaign to free all 42,045 barangays throughout the Philippines from infestation,” asserts the PDEA chief

The determination of this administration resulted in the seizure of P36 billion worth of illegal substances in two years and four months, which if compared to the two previous administrations combined would not even be half of that amount.

We can’t just allow these barangays to be reaffected, instead we need to intensify the campaign to free all 42,045 barangays throughout the Philippines from infestation.

The DDB in a statement said, “It seems that up until now, the Vice President is misled in understanding the anti-drug campaign. Authorities continue to address the domestic drug issues using a holistic, balanced and comprehensive approach.”

“Though much of the agencies of the government have been diligent in performing their roles and responsibilities under the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy, which is institutionalized by virtue of Executive Order 66, there are still institutions in the government and sectors in the society that need to be informed,” DDB stated.

Some 997 local government units have community-based rehabilitation programs for persons who use drugs and that a total of 179,152 PWUD have benefited from these facilities, it added.

The DDB indicated the Philippines was selected as chair of the Treatment and Rehabilitation Cluster of the ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Matters and that the DDB executive director also got elected as chair of the Heads of National Drug Law Enforcement Agencies in Asia and the Pacific Region.

“It appears that VP Robredo is only looking at the one side of the campaign. While enforcement issues are more evident, we cannot discount the successes we have gained in the demand reduction part of the campaign,” the DDB said.