Remulla leads inspection of P278M shabu seizure at Manila port

Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla on Tuesday led the inspection of P278 million worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride, or shabu, seized at the Manila International Container Port, citing gains in the government’s anti-drug campaign through a whole-of-nation approach.

The illegal drugs, packed in 131 parcels weighing about 41 kilograms, originated from Afghanistan and were seized through a joint operation by the Bureau of Customs, Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, and the Dangerous Drugs Board.

“The solution to the drug problem is not killing people. It is this kind of operation which solves the problem, which lowers the crime, which makes the people’s lives better. Ayun ang point namin dito,” Remulla said.

“Pwede namang magtrabaho nang hindi pinapatay ang maliliit na tao. Ang kailangan dito enforcement, manghuli para hindi dumating sa kalye, para bumaba ang droga,” he added.

Remulla said the government is gradually making progress in addressing illegal drugs through coordinated enforcement among agencies.

“There’s only one way to do it. Everyone has to work together,” he said.

“Slowly, we are winning the war. We are winning by curtailing the supply side. Makakaasa kayo na ang whole-of-nation approach ay for the good of the country. For the good of the future,” he added.

He stressed that the administration’s gains were achieved without resorting to violence, underscoring the importance of enforcement over extrajudicial killings.

“Ang enforcement ay mas importante kesa EJK. Na ang presyo ng drugs a-akyat at ang crime bababa nang hindi kinakailangan ng EJK,” Remulla said.

According to Remulla, intensified law enforcement efforts have driven the street value of shabu up by as much as 80 percent and reduced street crime by 24 percent.

“Enforcement is the key and working together is the solution,” he said.

He added that about P95.6 billion worth of illegal drugs has been confiscated under the Marcos administration over the past three years, surpassing seizures recorded by previous administrations.