By Jennifer P. Rendon
Lesser bloodshed but more arrests and bigger illegal drug volume seized.
This is how Philippine National Police chief General Rodolfo Azurin Jr. described his administration’s campaign against illegal drugs.
When asked if the illegal drugs situation in the country is better now than it was last year, Azurin said he could not make a comparison “but we’re trying our best that it should be better.
“Unang-una, despite na kukunti yung namamatay ngayon, dumarami naman ang nahuhuli sa illegal drugs,” Azurin said on Dec 21 during the Lakad Laban sa Droga fun walk at the Iloilo River Esplanada in Iloilo City.
In his first 89 days as PNP chief, Azurin said they were able to confiscate around P9 billion worth of illegal drugs. As of early December 2022, the figure reached almost P10 billion.
“We made more arrests with lesser killings. Gone are the days of the kill, kill, kill. Nag-level-up na tayo. From the previous na campaign, even towards the end of the Duterte administration, papunta na tayo sa reinforcement and education,” he said.
The PNP’s top cop emphasized that the government is gearing towards its “ADORE” program.
ADORE or the Anti-Illegal Drugs Operation through Reinforcement & Education is the latest strategy in the anti-illegal narcotics campaign in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the policy-making Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).
The latest campaign also enlisted the support of the community, especially the church leaders and the barangays.
“It’s a concerted effort not only by the police but we’re gearing towards the whole of the nation approach. Unti-unti, we’re going towards the rehabilitation of our drug dependents,” he said.
Azurin said this is where other agencies would come in such as DOH, DSWD, and TESDA.
“We really need to find out the root cause bakit mga drug peddlers. That’s the guidance of the president and even DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos na pag-aralan natin kung ano ang nagtutulak sa kanila para maging drug peddlers kasi kailangan magkaroom ng alternative na hanapbuhay,” he said.
Azurin said there are also efforts to give decent livelihood to reformed drug peddlers.
It was during the incumbency of former PNP chief Dionardo Carlos that the PNP shifted to ADORE campaign.
He also said that the final phase of the PNP’s campaign Plan Double-Barrel Finale Version 2022 would focus more on rehabilitating victims or drug users so they can recover.
