The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) confiscated more than P35 million worth of marijuana and shabu in drug operations conducted from October 3 to 9.
In his report to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said methamphetamine and marijuana amounting to P35,666,243 were confiscated in different drug hauls carried out by anti-drug agencies.
During that period, 710 anti-illegal drugs operations were conducted resulting in the arrest of 1,025 drug offenders. Fourteen of those surrendered, while a suspect died during an operation, according to Año.
Año also reported that the government’s fight against illegal drugs has been institutionalized through the campaign by local government units particularly with the creation of provincial, city, and municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Councils.
A 2016 government campaign to rehabilitate drugs addicts has also gained momentum, Año said.
In 2017, 149,000 drug users availed themselves the community-based drug rehabilitation program through the existing Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers (DATRCs).
“By the second quarter of 2021 of, we recorded 783,005 who availed the community-based drug rehabilitation program and we can say it that most of them were treated and released,” he said.
To rehabilitate more drug users, the government increased the number of DATRCs under the Department of Health’s supervision, from 13 to 22.
In 2016, 10,633 drug users enrolled at DATRC. Currently, 63,758 drug users who underwent the DATRC’s program were fully rehabilitated, Año added.
