A panel of ranking Philippine National Police (PNP) officers was formed to review the agency’s Duterte-era anti-narcotics strategy, called, “Oplan Double Barrel,” to determine if it has proven effective in curbing the illegal trade and if remains consistent with the incumbent administration’s approach of targeting drugs at the source.
PNP chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil told journalists that the review seeks to evaluate the program’s effectiveness, identify its strengths and weaknesses, and align with the government’s recalibrated anti-drug drive.
“We need to take a hard look at our past and present strategies in the fight against illegal drugs. By understanding what worked and what didn’t, we can refine our approach and ensure a more effective and humane campaign moving forward,” he said in a statement on Wednesday.
The anti-narcotics campaign of the Philippines has “changed significantly” as President Marcos maintained that he remains opposed to the use of violence in confronting the drug menace.
“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. It really requires a 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,” said Marcos.
The PNP’s review panel will be led by the office of the PNP deputy chief for operations Lt. Gen. Michael John Dubria while the members will be composed of representatives from the PNP directorates for operations, investigation, intelligence and community relations; Internal Affairs Service, and Human Rights Office.
“This review panel will bring together the key components of our police force to ensure a comprehensive and balanced evaluation,” Marbil explained.
For many, Double Barrel has become synonymous with the previous administration’s bloody drug war that claimed the lives of thousands of small-time drug pushers and users.
The actual number of people killed during the Duterte government’s supposed war on drugs remains unclear, with some groups reporting around 7,000 while others claim the figure is closer to 30,000.
Oplan Double Barrel was launched in 2016 under then-PNP chief and now Senator Ronald dela Rosa.
It was relaunched in 2017 as ‘Oplan Double Barrel Reloaded’ and its final iteration, tagged, ‘Double Barrel Finale Version 2022,’ was implemented shortly before Duterte’s term ended.
Marbil said the review panel will be looking into the strategy’s key components, specifically, Project Tokhang (visiting suspected drug personalities at home) and Project High-Value Target (which focuses on drug traffickers).
The PNP chief said a soon-to-be-issued memorandum will detail the guidelines of the review panel’s function, along with a deadline for submitting its findings and recommendations.
“The insights we gain from this review will directly inform our recalibrated strategy, ensuring that our anti-illegal drugs campaign is not only effective but also aligned with the principles of justice and human rights,” he noted.
As this developed, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. assured that the Marcos Administration’s campaign against drugs would be carried out lawfully and with as little bloodshed as possible.
“It’s really legal, no extra-judicial (EJK) killings, that’s what I told the police. Life is priceless and no one should die through EJK, unless of course it’s a valid self-defense,” he pointed out.
The current administration’s anti-drug flagship program, called, ‘Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan’ (BIDA), focuses on “demand reduction and supply reduction,” said Abalos.
