PCOO docu to show gains, challenges of Duterte’s drug war

Andanar said the documentary, which will also be simulcast in PCOO-managed social media pages, was produced to counter negative press being received by the drug war. (File Photo: Martin Andanar/Facebook)

MANILA — The tremendous gains as well as the challenges of the Duterte administration’s crackdown on illegal drugs will be shown in a documentary to be aired on state-run PTV-4 at 7 p.m. on Thursday.

“Gramo”, produced by the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), is an hour-long documentary which would hopefully help address “inaccurate narratives” about the anti-narcotics campaign.

“It highlights the tremendous successes of the initiative as well as challenges to the campaign, from the real stories of victims on the ground, the transformation of former drug users, law enforcement operations, to the crackdown on rogue cops,” Andanar said in his speech during Gramo’s special screening with media at the New Executive Building in Malacañang on Wednesday.

“It also addresses the inaccurate depictions of the proactive initiative that have tainted the campaign and this administration’s efforts,” he added.

Andanar said the documentary, which will also be simulcast in PCOO-managed social media pages, was produced to counter negative press being received by the drug war.

“Gramo is important for us to send the narrative of the war on our drugs not only locally but also to the foreign audience,” Andanar said.

He admitted that the anti-narcotics campaign has been “criticized heavily” especially by international media outlets and human rights groups.

“We can read on international media outfits about how our war on drugs has been criticized heavily in the international scene. So it is the duty of the national government, the Presidential Communications Operations Office to tell the government’s narrative. It is very important for us to tell the stories on our war on drugs, the achievements, and where this war on drugs is headed in the next three years,” he added.

Apart from the documentary, the PCOO also launched a 57-paged magazine “Saving the Future of A Nation: Countering Hard Drugs.”

The magazine features the key performance indicators on the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign that likewise zeroes in on the harmful social effects brought about by illegal drugs.

Human rights upheld

Andanar, meanwhile, renewed commitment to ensure that the drug war will continue to adhere to the rule of law and uphold human rights.

“We will continue to implement strong law enforcement with consistent adherence and observance of human rights and dignity through rescue, rehabilitation, reformation, and ridding drug war operations of corruption,” he said.

Despite the negative portrayal perpetuated by detractors, the PCOO chief said the administration stands by its mandate to rid the country of illegal drugs and corruption.

“Criticisms have been made with regards to this matter, in part through the proliferation of misinformation and fact-twisting by the oppositionists and other interest groups,” Andanar said.

“Despite this, the Duterte administration will remain firm in its mandate and obligation to realize a drug-free and corruption-free Philippines,” he added.

Data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) showed that a total of PHP 37.11 billion worth of illegal drugs has been seized from the start of the drug war in July 1, 2016 to October 31, 2019.

A total of 148,037 anti-illegal drug operations were conducted with 215, 569 persons arrested and 5,779 drug war casualties, the PDEA said.

There is a total of 459,946 individuals who surrendered to recovery programs, according to data from the Philippine National Police.