BY: VANESSA BUGTONG
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his administration’s “bloodless campaign against drugs” has been effective, citing a decline in the number of Filipinos using illegal substances.
Since assuming office nearly three years ago, Marcos has focused on a drug war centered on human rights and rehabilitation.
However, some Filipinos still fear drug-related crimes, including 38-year-old vendor Bylane Tapaoan from Baguio City.
“It’s sad because you know what effect this [drug issue] has on people. It’s as if drugs have become legal in the Philippines, and many lives are being ruined,” Tapaoan said.
In a speech on March 12, Marcos highlighted the success of his administration’s anti-drug campaign.
He emphasized that the country does not need fear and violence but real solutions.
“Progress does not come from threats and intimidation. We need solutions, not harsh and meaningless words that have nothing to do with the real problems people face daily,” Marcos said.
According to the Philippine National Police, authorities seized over 20 billion pesos worth of illegal drugs last year.
A total of 46,821 anti-drug operations were conducted, leading to the arrest of 57,129 drug offenders.
Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin “Boying” Remulla also underscored the government’s legal and humane approach to tackling the drug problem during the 60th session of the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
The Department of Justice reported that the number of drug users in the country dropped from 1.67 million in 2019 to 1.47 million in 2023, based on the National Survey on Drug Abuse in the Philippines.
Despite these figures, Tapaoan and other Filipinos hope for more effective long-term solutions to ensure the safety of their communities.
