170 drug dens, shabu labs dismantled in 14 months: PDEA

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. (PNA photo)

MANILA — A total of 170 drug dens and clandestine shabu laboratories have so far been dismantled by authorities even as President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, for the nth time, reiterated his resolve to relentlessly continue his campaign against illegal drugs in the country.

In its monthly update on “#RealNumbers,” the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Friday announced that 161 drug dens and nine clandestine shabu laboratories have been destroyed. The period covered is from June 2016 to August 2017.

Over the same period, some PHP18.63 billion worth of illegal drugs were seized from these operations.

As of August 29, 2017, a total of 2,465.65 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as “shabu,” with an estimated street value of PHP12.7 billion, were seized.

PDEA said authorities also arrested 107,156 individuals involved in illegal drugs from July 2016 to Aug. 29, 2017.

Included in the total are 376 government workers — 167 of them elected officials, 33 uniformed personnel, and 176 government employees.

Around 70,854 anti-illegal drugs operations by joint law enforcement agencies were conducted during the period.

As of Aug. 29, 2017, the consolidated report showed that 3,811 drug suspects have died during operations.

Meanwhile, 289 law enforcers were either killed or injured in anti-drug operations — 76 were killed in action and at least 213 officers were reported injured.

Aside from PDEA, the agencies involved in the fight against illegal drugs include the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), among others.

Meanwhile, the joint law enforcement agencies rescued 578 minors during the anti-illegal drugs operations.

According to the Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD), the rescued minors were turned over to Bahay Pagasa centers of local government units (LGUs) after court proceedings after which they were handed over to DSWD for counseling and reformation for their eventual return to mainstream society.

Since they are minors, DSWD said they should not be put in prison together with hardened criminals.