War on drugs tops 100 days accomplishments of President Duterte

President Rodrigo “Rody” Duterte shows a document containing the list of alleged narco-politicians during his speech at the Police Regional Office 13 Headquarters in Camp Rafael C. Rodriguez, Butuan City on Thursday (Oct. 6, 2016). (Photo: Simeon Celi Je./PPD/PNA)

MANILA – The intensified campaign against illegal drugs has topped the list of the major accomplishments of President Rodrigo Duterte in his first 100 days in office.

Presidential Communications Operations (PCO) Secretary Martin Andanar said war on drugs is a “complete success” based on 84 percent of Filipinos who are “satisfied” with the campaign.

“The people believe in it. Eighty four (84) percent believe in the war against illegal drugs,” Andanar said in an interview with ANC on Friday, the 100th day of President Duterte in Malacanang.

He said the crimes dropped by 40 percent, another clear manifestation that campaign against drugs is in the right direction.

“It has dropped and people feel safer now. That’s the law and order that the President wants to fix. We have a weak rule of law here in the Philippines and he wants to strengthen that. He is going against corrupt people,” Andanar said.

The war on drugs drew international attention due to spate of killings of drug suspects but President Duterte is unperturbed his critics, saying he won’t stop until the last apparatus of illegal drug is broken.

So far, the war on drugs has resulted in the arrest of over 22,000 drug pushers and users; killing of more than 1,200 in legitimate police operations and surrender of 720,000 drug personalities all over the country.

Based on the data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), President Duterte said the country’s drug dependents are more than 3.7 million.

Andanar said the President’s clear program to achieve and peace and order took a big step when he ordered the release of top detained leaders of the communist group and declared indefinite ceasefire to give the resumption of peace talks in Oslo, Norway last August.

President Duterte had also started talking with leaders of the Moro National Liberation Front (MILF) and Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) to settle long overdue war in Mindanao.

“This road map to peace is one of the highlights of the President in his first 100 days,” Andanar said.

He said the Duterte administration’s poverty alleviation program is also off to a good start with the approval of Php380 billion infrastructure projects that could provide thousands of additional employments.

“Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary (Rafael) Mariano is giving away land, including in the Hacienda Luisita,” Andanar said.

“These three (war on drugs, peace and order and poverty alleviation) highlight the accomplishment of the President,” he added.

Andanar also mentioned the tax reform, particularly the income tax bracket that would increase net take home pay of the low income earners.

The President’s First 100 Days of Change Documentary will be telecast over state-run People’s Television Network from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday with replays in the evening from Oct. 8 to 10.