PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Wilkins Villanueva yesterday said streets are safer due to the success of the war against illegal drugs during the administration of President Duterte.
During the Duterte Legacy Summit, Villanueva said the accomplishments achieved under the campaign against illegal drugs over the past six years were “unprecedented.”
“Under the Duterte rule, the streets are safer. People are out of harm’s way. Criminality rate continues to drop due to the decline of the number of drug dependents,” said Villanueva.
Villanueva said P88.83 billion worth of illegal drugs were seized, 6,241 persons died and 336,796 others were arrested during anti-drug operations from July 1, 2016 up to March 31 this year.
Villanueva also said the PDEA has successfully implemented its barangay drug-clearing program. Last Sunday, PDEA said 25,061 barangays have been cleared of drugs since July 2016.
During the same period, Villanueva said the government has also put premium to saving lives, noting that 693,972 drug users and drug pushers were enrolled to intervention and reformation programs.
“Our beloved country could have been a narco-state if not for President Duterte’s tough stance in fighting illegal drugs,” he said.
At the start of his administration, Duterte promised to solve the country’s drug problem and even exposed politicians and policemen allegedly involved drug trade. He later admitted this cannot be accomplished.
“He admittedly underestimated the severity of the drug problem,” said Villanueva, adding PDEA sustained the fight against illegal drugs even with Duterte’s admission the menace cannot be ended during his term.
“To the persistent critics who contend that the drug war is a failure, I respect your right to free speech,” said Villanueva. “You may have articulated your opinions based on what you see in the news or heard in the social media and not on actual experiences.”
During the same summit, PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr. presented the PNP’s accomplishments over the past six years and called Duterte as the “best Mayor-President” of the country.
In a video presentation, titled “Golden Era of the PNP,” the PNP detailed its feat in the campaign against illegal drugs, anti-criminality, anti-gambling operations, and in the fight against communist and terrorist groups.
It also delved on the improvements made during the Duterte administration, including acquisition of more firearms, vehicles, helicopters, and communication equipment, among others.
In its internal clearing operations, the PNP said it has penalized 37,690 erring personnel, of which 773 were dismissed and 223 were either demoted, suspended or reprimanded.
“We assure our outgoing commander-in-chief that we will sustain the golden era of the Philippine National Police,” Danao said, adding: “We will uphold the vision and aspirations of President, Mayor Rodrigo Roa Duterte, towards the attainment of our vision to be a highly capable, effective and credible police force.”
