Diametrically opposed approach

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DURING a meeting at the Chancellery in Berlin on March 12, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz asked President Marcos Jr. about current Philippine policies on the fight against illegal drugs. This question takes on a weighty significance in Europe whose leaders have traditionally been wary of former President Rodrigo Duterte’s militarist and bloody approach to the problem.

In his reply, President Marcos said, “It’s a big problem, but our approach has changed significantly. I am diametrically opposed to handling the drug problem in that way, by confrontation, by violence and it really requires so much more, much deeper understanding of the problem and a much deeper solution. So, yes, I think that we are also progressing when it comes to that,” Marcos told Scholz.

For the consumption of his German hosts, the Filipino community in Germany, and the German audience, Marcos cited some of the reforms he made, such as revamping the Philippine National Police to flush out police officers involved “in some of the more nefarious practices” that were undertaken during the previous administration. The President said several killer cops have been tried and convicted, now in jail and serving their time. Although true, this happened before he assumed office.

‘Marcos sounded more truthful when he acknowledged to Scholz that the illegal drugs trade is “a difficult problem…”’

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It is quite easy for Malacañang to make a list of favorable developments in the fight against drug syndicates. The Palace said illegal drugs worth over P10.41 billion were confiscated; 56,495 suspects were arrested last year in over 44,000 law enforcement operations; 50 provinces now have functional Anti-Drug Abuse Councils; and the government has established 74 in-patient treatment and rehabilitation facilities across the country.

While his audience in Europe might believe Marcos, we who are here in the Philippines are inured to incidents of drug trafficking, which can be read daily in newspapers, and viewed on television and social media. Every day, a drug pusher in the street, a drug mule at the airport, a smuggler of drugs in ports, are arrested. These are just arrests in legitimate operations nationwide. Imagine how many incidents of drug dealings were not foiled.

Early in his term, the President vowed to shift the focus of the government’s anti-drugs program to rehabilitation. Malacañang said the recent government successes were under the President’s new approach of focusing on rehabilitation, reintegration, and preventive education programs.

These are all very good on paper and pleasant to the ear, but ordinary Filipinos following the news can only shake their heads in disbelief as they see the youth dabble in vape, cigarettes and liquor, which are common chemical addictions, then move on to marijuana, meth, shabu, cocaine and party drugs. The illegal drugs business was just temporarily stayed by the Duterte administration’s strong-arm approach, only to stage a strong comeback under Marcos.

Marcos sounded more truthful when he acknowledged to Scholz that the illegal drugs trade is “a difficult problem because the money involved is so much that it’s hard for the government to compete with the kind of money that’s been thrown around by the drug lords.” The task ahead is really difficult, as Duterte tried to wage a serious war against the drug rings with fatalities of at least 6,000 people from July 1, 2016 to May 31, 2022 and still ended his term barely making a dent.

Nearly two years as president, Marcos should be in a position now to assess if his avowed peaceful and non-bloody approach to the drug problem is gaining ground. The President said his administration has reduced the problem of illegal drug business in the Philippines. This he can tell Chancellor Olaf Scholz and anybody in Germany who cares to listen, but people in the Philippines will take the claim with a grain of salt.

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