By Prince Golez
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has seized some P30.9 billion worth of illegal drugs in 2022.
In its 2022 accomplishment report presented to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. this week, the PDEA also said it destroyed some P27.8 billion worth of drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals.
A total of 53,002 drug personalities were arrested in its more than 37,000 operations last year, the country’s lead agency in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs added.
According to the PDEA report, some 237 marijuana sites were also eradicated, resulting in the destruction of P738.6 million worth of marijuana plants and derivatives.
To reduce demand for illegal drugs, the agency conducted 257,588 Preventive Education and Community Involvement activities and established 111 Balay Silangan Reformation Centers, producing around 2,000 graduates and employing 894 people.
More than 300,000 Persons Who Use Drugs (PWUDs) in drug-cleared barangays also underwent community-based drug rehabilitation programs, while 67,045 PWUDs were given intervention programs.
The PDEA said most commonly used drugs are methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as shabu,” marijuana and methylenedioxymethamphetamine or “ecstasy,” with the majority of those arrested last year being involved in shabu-related cases.
In terms of drug entry points, the report said syndicates are exploiting the country’s archipelagic nature by transporting illegal drugs and controlled precursors and essential chemicals via seaports, airports, mail and parcel services, and the vast expanse of the Philippine coastlines.
In 2022, the PDEA also actively helped in the prosecution of drug personalities nationwide, filing 45,850 drug cases against them. Out of 25,306 resolved cases last year, 21,112 or 83 percent resulted in convictions while 1,439 cases or six percent were dismissed by the courts.
Looking ahead, the PDEA is strengthening the implementation of its anti-illegal drugs strategies, with a particular emphasis on suppressing supply through intensified conduct of intelligence-driven and high-impact operations, arrest of top-level drug personalities, improved inter-agency collaboration and increased efforts in drug entry points to deter smuggling.
It also works to reduce drug demand through the National Anti-Drug Advocacy Campaign, close collaboration with Anti-Drug Abuse Councils, community-based drug rehabilitation programs, and enhance information dissemination to promote a stigma-free campaign and assist PWUDs.
