11-8-2024 (MANILA) The Philippine National Police (PNP) has announced a significant shift in its approach to combating illegal drugs, focusing on dismantling supply chains and targeting high-level traffickers rather than street-level users and small-time dealers. This strategic overhaul, revealed by PNP Chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil on Sunday, marks a departure from previous tactics and emphasises a more holistic and humane approach to addressing the nation’s drug problem.
General Marbil, speaking to reporters in Manila, outlined the core principles of this recalibrated strategy. “We’re moving away from merely cutting off the heads of the hydra,” he explained, using a metaphor to illustrate the ineffectiveness of past methods. “Our new focus is on targeting the body – the entire supply chain and the sources fuelling the drug trade.”
This shift in policy comes after years of criticism directed at the Philippines’ heavy-handed war on drugs, which has been marred by accusations of human rights violations and extrajudicial killings. The new approach, according to Marbil, aims to be “more effective and less violent,” placing a premium on human rights while tackling the drug issue at its roots.
Central to this revised strategy is an increased emphasis on intelligence operations and community engagement. The PNP plans to leverage these tools to identify and dismantle drug trafficking networks more efficiently. “We’re now zeroing in on high-value drug personalities and tracking the movement of illegal substances across the country,” Marbil stated. “These are our real targets – the orchestrators and profiteers of the trade, not the street-level pushers and users who are often victims of circumstance themselves.”
The police chief was keen to underscore the importance of minimising bloodshed in this new phase of anti-drug operations. “With this approach, we’re not just saving lives; we’re working towards a better future for our nation,” he asserted. “We are committed to addressing the drug issue with compassion, strategy, and strict adherence to the rule of law.”
This strategic shift aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision for a safer and more secure Philippines. It represents a significant departure from the controversial tactics employed during the previous administration, which drew international condemnation for its brutal and often deadly approach to drug enforcement.
As if to underscore the ongoing nature of drug-related crime in the Philippines, Marbil’s announcement coincided with news of a successful drug bust in Negros Occidental province. Police seized illegal drugs with an estimated street value of 1.7 million pesos (approximately $26,700) and arrested two suspects in a sting operation.
Brigadier General Eleazar Matta, chief of the PNP Drug Enforcement Group, reported that the operation resulted in the confiscation of 255 grams of suspected shabu (methamphetamine) and the arrest of two individuals identified only by their aliases, “Ray-an” and “Madam”.
