BIG CATCH. Ranking officials of agencies leading the anti-illegal drugs campaign present PHP2.6 billion worth of shabu and three suspects, including a Chinese national, at the PNP Crime Laboratory in Camp Crame on Thursday (Nov. 28, 2019). The PNP considers the drug haul is so far the biggest volume of illegal drugs confiscated by authorities this year. (PNA photo by Lloyd Caliwan)
MANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Thursday vowed to further intensify the government's crackdown on illegal drugs, particularly in curbing its supply from other countries.
Officials of agencies leading the drug war presented three suspects, including a Chinese national, who were arrested in separate operations in Makati and Las Piñas and yielded a total of PHP2.6 billion worth of shabu, the biggest drug bust for this year.
“We really have to focus on the supply side because of our aggressive campaign, there is still plenty of supply of illegal drugs. We have to stop the network of the supply of illegal drugs,” PNP officer-in-charge, Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa said in a press briefing at Camp Crame, Quezon City.
“This is proof of our intensified campaign against illegal drugs, this time focusing on high-value targets, drug syndicates and drug traffickers who continue to be the sources of illegal substances that are continuously being peddled on the streets,” he added.
Gamboa, together with Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Chairman Catalino Cuy, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Deputy Director-General Greg Pimentel, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) acting chief Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas and PNP Drug Enforcement Group (DEG) acting chief Col. Romeo Caramat, presented to the media the confiscated drugs concealed inside green tea packs.
Gamboa said he was eyeing to recalibrate the campaign against illegal drugs.
"'Yung sinabi kong calibrated ibig sabihi, i-revisit 'yung campaign kasi three years na rin siya eh [What I mean by calibrated is to revisit the campaign because it has been three years since the drug war started]," Gamboa said.
Gamboa pointed out the vagueness in defining high-value targets (HVTs) as part of the components of the renewed drug war.
"This time, the assessment for the three years we have conducted this drug war and then we reassess ask the regional director as the concerned national support unit on this campaign," he said.
Gamboa told Vice President Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo, former co-chairman of the Interagency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD), that the PNP would evaluate and analyze its strategy in eliminating Illegal drugs in the country.
Gamboa said the move was guided by the Philippine Anti-Drugs Strategy (PADS), formulated by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).
Decline in shabu supply
Meanwhile, Cuy said the supply of illegal drugs on the streets will be affected by the anti-drug operations.
“Definitely (bababa ang supply) (it will decrease). Nawala sa market so may vacuum sa (There is a lack in the market so there is a vacuum on the) supply side,” Cuy said.
Cuy said the Duterte administration is winning its campaign against illegal drugs, noting that the success could be attributed to the improved tactics of law enforcers as well as the cooperation of the public.
"It's very difficult to say you're winning or losing sa drugs. Sa atin (For us), what we see now nakaka-confiscate tayo (we confiscated) and what's important for us is public awareness," Cuy said.
"Itong mga nahuhuli natin (Those arrested) just shows 'yung (the) increase of efficiency ng ating (of our)law enforcement, 'yung (the) increased cooperation ng public na pagre-report ng (through reporting of) suspicious-looking people, so for me, for DDB, we believe we are winning the campaign," he added. (PNA)
