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Palace shrugs off Gordon's tirade vs. drug war

(File photo) MANILA - Malacanang on Wednesday brushed aside Senator Richard Gordon's fresh tirade against President Rodrigo Roa Duterte's anti-narcotics drive. In a virtual presser, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, also acting presidential spokesperson, dismissed as a mere "political noise" the claim of Gordon that Duterte seemed to have failed to end the drug problem in the country. "As we all know, we are in the middle of the campaign season and this is part of the political noise," Andanar said, when sought to react to the statement of Gordon, who is seeking reelection in the May 9, 2022 national elections, on Duterte's drug war. In an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel, Gordon branded Duterte as "idol of the blind." Gordon also blasted Duterte for the latter's alleged unfulfilled promise to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs in his first three to six months in power. On March 31, Duterte expressed optimism that the country's next president would also be eager to eradicate illegal drugs. Duterte also bared his plan to discuss with his successor the gravity of the drug problem in the country and its possible resurgence if the anti-narcotics campaign is terminated. According to the latest Real Numbers data released by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, a total of 24,379 out of the 42,045 villages have been declared drug-cleared since the Duterte government waged a war on illegal drugs in July 2016. As of February 2022, around 6,606 villages have remained drug-free while 11,060 have yet to be cleared of illegal drugs. Authorities have also seized a total of PHP76.01 billion worth of illegal drugs, including PHP63.46 worth of shabu. The conduct of the 229,868 anti-illegal drug operations led to the arrest of around 14,648 high-value targets and the death of 6,235 drug suspects. On March 29, Duterte ordered the PDEA to furnish the human right groups with a copy of the report on the government's anti-narcotics drive to enlighten them about the drug problem in the country. (PNA) }

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Over 24K villages 'drug-cleared' as of February: PDEA

PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva (Photo courtesy of PDEA) MANILA - More than 24,000 barangays across the country have been cleared from illegal drugs since the start of the Duterte administration's crackdown on banned drugs in mid-2016. Based on the latest Real Numbers data released by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Wednesday, a total of 24,379 out of the 42,045 barangays (villages) have been declared drug-cleared while 6,606 barangays were drug unaffected/drug-free barangays and 11,060 have yet to be cleared of illegal drugs as of February 2022. These barangays have reached drug-cleared status after the issuance of a certification by members of the oversight committee on barangay drug-clearing program. The agency assured that the health and safety of its agents are prioritized in anti-drug operations. Authorities have seized a total of PHP76.01 billion worth of narcotics across the country since the start of the Duterte administration's crackdown on illegal drugs in mid-2016. The amount includes PHP63.46 worth of shabu. Authorities have seized 8,170.51 kilograms (kg.) of shabu, 4,205.76 kgs of marijuana, 22.56 kg. of ecstasy, 534.20 kg. of cocaine, and 3,483.04 kg. of other dangerous drugs while dismantling a total of 1,057 drug dens and 18 clandestine shabu laboratories from July 2016 to February 2022. A total of 14,648 high-value targets across the country were arrested since the anti-illegal drugs campaign was launched on July 1, 2016. The figure includes 6,482 HVTs arrested from high impact operations, 4,018 target-listed suspects, 1,556 drug den maintainers, 797 drug group leaders/members, 525 government employees, 398 elected officials, 353 foreigners, 291 included on wanted lists, 126 uniformed personnel, 78 armed group members and 24 prominent personalities. Authorities also arrested 331,694 individuals involved in illegal drugs during the period. As of February this year, the consolidated report showed 6,235 drug suspects have died during 229,868 anti-illegal drug operations. From July 2016 to February 2022, authorities also arrested 4,230 minors. This can be broken down into 2,532 pushers; 987 possessors; 445 users; 234 visitors of drug dens; nine drug den maintainers; 17 drug den employees, three cultivators, one clan lab employee, and two runners. According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the rescued minors, after court proceedings, will be turned over to the Bahay Pag-asa centers of LGUs within eight hours of police custody, before turning them over to the DSWD. Since they are minors, the DSWD said they would not be put behind bars together with hardened criminals. These rescued minors will be turned over after court proceedings to the Bahay Pag-asa centers of LGUs within eight hours of police custody, before turning them over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. (PNA) }

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