INTERIOR Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos Jr. yesterday said some 24,159 “drug personalities” have been arrested and P9.9 billion worth of illegal drugs have been seized so far under the administration of President Marcos Jr.
“These numbers are clear indication that our law enforcement against illegal drugs remains to be relentless,” said Abalos, referring to the accomplishment made from July 1 to November 24.
“We will continue to arrest drug pushers and drug lords,” said Abalos, days after the grand launch of the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan or BIDA program last Saturday.
The program is a whole-of-nation approach to address the menace of illegal drugs, focused on demand reduction and rehabilitation of drug users while sustaining supply reduction efforts or operations against drug dealers.
“The intensity of arresting the drug pushers remains. That will continue,” said Abalos.
“In fact, for the past four months now, since President Bongbong Marcos Jr. assumed office, we already seized nearly P10 billion worth of illegal drugs,” said Abalos.
“We can also say the number (of drug personalities arrested) is increasing,” Abalos said, adding some of these arrested drug personalities are “big fishes.”
The largest quantity of illegal drugs to be seized in a single operation under the Marcos administration so far was 990 kilos of shabu worth P6.7 billion. The contraband was seized during a raid of a lending firm in Manila October 8.
The firm is owned by M/Sgt. Rodolfo Mayo Jr., of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group, who was arrested a day later during a follow-up operation in Manila. Seized from Mayo’s possession were two kilos of shabu worth P13.6 million.
During the launch of BIDA at Camp Crame yesterday, PNP Deputy Chief for Administration Lt. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia said the PNP will fully support the program of Abalos.
Sermonia urged PNP units to conduct more aggressive operations against illegal drugs in support of the program. He said these operations should be conducted “in compliance with the laws that protect basic human rights.”
Sermonia also said policemen will also intensify efforts to reduce demand for illegal drugs.
“We shall also conduct visitation of personalities included in the drug list and convince them to voluntarily surrender and to undergo the BIDA program,” said Sermonia.
Police seized P108,000 worth of suspected dangerous drugs and arrested a jobless man during a buy-bust operation in Pasig City yesterday.
Col. Wilson Asueta, Eastern police district (EPD) director, identified the suspect as alias Marcel, 41, of Ramos village in Barangay Sta. Lucia, Pasig. — With Christian Oineza
