The Philippines is facing a grave social ill that has been existing for many years -- the massive

spread of
illegal drugs. The drug menace is compounded by other social ills such as rampant criminality, lingering
poverty, and corruption in the bureaucracy. I therefore believe that it right and just that the president
addressed this grave ill that rote our society. The Philippines to resolute in saving its people from the
scourge of illicit drugs which the Filipino people agreed to support. The drug epidemic in the country
prevents ordinary Filipinos, mainly the youth, from developing their full potentials and enjoying the fruits
of the country’s socio-economic progress. The priority of the Duterte administration with respect with his
campaign on anti-illegal drugs is reduction of all forms of crimes, including manufacture, sale and
distribution of illegal drugs, is being supported by a holistic program that seeks to combat not only the
crimes but also the corruption that perpetuates such crimes. To uplift the right to life of every Filipino and
their right to a society conducive for development that have been eroded by widespread drug abuse. The
right to life of every Filipino, including their right to live in a society that allows for the development of
their full human potential, that has been eroded by the sad state of peace and order in many communities
brought about by the drug problem, the magnitude of which has only been realized in the current
administration.

Statistics show that the Philippine drug problem has been growing in the recent years. Between 2012 and
2015 the number of drug users has risen from 1.3 million to 1.8 million. The figure 1.8 million translates
to 2.3 per cent drug prevalence. With a margin of error of -5% to +5%, actual number may be as high as
5.71 million the number of confirmed positives in voluntary drug test results has risen from 1,383 to
16,838. Admissions in rehabilitation centers have risen from 2,744 to 5,402, of which new admissions
numbered 4,392, the highest in 10 years the number of persons arrested and cases filed by the Philippine
Drug Enforcement Authority (PDEA) has risen from 10,159 to 19,432, anti-illegal drugs operations
conducted have risen from 15,613 to 25,041. The drug problem has been strongly co-related to criminality
in the country. Serious crimes that include rape with homicide, murder, kidnapping, armed assault,
robbery and so on have been perpetuated by people and groups under the influence of illegal drugs, and
have posed serious threats to communities across the Philippines.

It might seem that the war on drugs focuses on eradicating the drug pushers and higher drug personalities
but the state also recognizes the drug problem as a health issue and promotes and protects the drug users'
right to health. Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation is subsumed under the drug demand reduction pillar
wherein drug dependents are treated, rehabilitated and reintegrated into society. To address the number
of drug users and pushers seeking drug treatment and rehabilitation, the President ordered the
establishment and support of drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers under Executive Order No.
4.Wherein the Departments of Health (DOH), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Interior and Local
Government (DILG), the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), PNP and PDEA are working closely to implement
E.O. No. 4. The DDB has issued a number of guidelines to manage the assessment of those who surrender
and seek drug treatment and rehabilitation. To complement DDB guidelines, the DOH has implemented
Community-Based Rehabilitation. Under these guidelines, referrals are made to medical facilities for those
who need treatment. The rehabilitation of those who are assessed as low-risk is managed within the
community. Wherein out of the 700,000 drug user surrendered, only around 1-2 per cent is estimated to
need admission and treatment in facilities, with the majority to be managed through community-based
services. Also DOH developed the algorithm on community-based rehabilitation program in 2016 with the
technical assistance of the World Health Organization. With this juncture the government does not just
impose the war against illegal drug, well in fact the government actually creates a way in rehabilitating
and guiding the users to a better life, a better health towards a greater future ahead.

The international community has been led to believe that there have been over 7,000 “extrajudicial
killings” in the Philippines. In fact, there were 5,118 murder cases in the Philippines from 1 July 2016 to
19 February 2017. If the 2,144 killings resulting from law enforcement operations were added to this
figure, the figure would indeed be over 7,000 killings. That the PNP conducts investigations of the 1,785
police operations involving 1,123 personnel that have resulted in the killing of 2,144 suspects from July
2016 to 13 January 2017. Classifying all these are “extrajudicial killings” is clearly wrong. The spike in the
statistics on killings, while in part coming from data on casualties from legitimate police operations against
drug criminals, arose from killings carried out by vigilante elements or purges within the drug syndicates,
which are being investigated as murders. It should be pointed out further that police investigations
indicate that over half of the killings recorded in the last seven months are suspected to be non-drug
related. The media reports do not point out that Philippine authorities are among the casualties of the
killings: 35 PNP and AFP officials have been killed, and 107 wounded during AID law enforcement
operations. That the PNP were also subjected its personnel to drug testing. From July 2016 to 20 February
2017, PNP testing yielded 196 positives for illegal drugs. These cases are being handled according to
administrative regulations. Moreover, the increase of manpower complement of the PNP Internal Affairs
Services to better handle its mandate to investigate the conduct of the law enforcement operations; the
President’s orders for the PNP to cleanse its ranks in response to incidents attesting to abuse of authority
by PNP personnel; as a result of the internal cleansing process in the PNP, at least 21 police officers are
facing criminal charges, while 21 have been administratively charged; and, the President’s issuance of
Executive Order 15 on 6 March 2017, creating the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs, with
PDEA as chair, to reinforce and streamline government-wide coordination on the AID campaign.

That there is more to it than what is reported to us by the media.