President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to a “bloodless” war on drugs, touting a new strategy focused on prevention, rehabilitation, and enforcement, without the killings that marked the past.
“It has been described as a bloodless war on drugs. And this is what we are aiming for,” Mr. Marcos said during his visit to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
“We do not kill people who are just suspected of having anything to do with drugs. We are handling the drug problem in a different way,” he said.
President Marcos confirmed the largest drug seizure in six months after fishermen recovered P1.2 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu) off the western coastline between Region I and Zambales.
No suspects were apprehended, as the packages were found adrift and turned over by citizens to authorities.
“This is the biggest haul in the last six months, and among the largest in our history,” President Marcos said, noting that P62 billion worth of shabu has been intercepted under his three-year watch.
The drugs are scheduled for destruction in Capas, Tarlac, with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) conducting random chemical testing beforehand.
The President called on members of the media to attend the event to ensure transparency, referencing past allegations that seized drugs were recycled and sold back into the streets.
“Let the public see it. Watch the testing. Watch the incineration. We want to assure everyone that what we confiscated will never make it back to the market,” he said.
He credited the interception to increased vigilance among ordinary citizens and a renewed focus on border monitoring.
“This came as a result of the instruction I gave our authorities—to prioritize identifying the entry points of large-scale drug shipments,” he said.
Beyond enforcement, President Marcos emphasized the administration’s evolving drug policy, which includes strengthening prevention programs, investing in rehabilitation for drug dependents, and maintaining a strong law enforcement presence, especially in neighborhoods and near schools.
He directed police not only to dismantle syndicates but also to pursue small-time street-level dealers.
“Even if it’s just someone selling in a neighborhood, it makes people feel unsafe,” President Marcos said.
The president said the country is starting to see progress from this new approach.
“The new concept of the war against drugs is working,” he said.
“And I think we are beginning to see the good effects of that policy,” the president added.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Marcos defends ‘bloodless’ drug war after record meth seizures.”