Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has successfully ushered in a new era in the country’s anti-drug campaign — one grounded in accountability, science, and rule of law, without resorting to killings.

Speaking during the post-SONA discussions, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla said a major shift took place under the Marcos administration — one that put an end to the old “reward-based” system that encouraged police abuses, including unlawful killings.

Remulla said that when he assumed office, he prioritized the elimination of corrupt practices within the police, particularly those hoarding seized drugs for resale or for fabricated operations.

According to him, a systemic culture was prevalent before where officers would seize large quantities of illegal drugs, submit a fraction, and recycle the rest back into the market.�”Ngayong panahon ni Presidente Marcos, sabi niya tigil na ‘yan. Ang nangyari niyan, hinuli muna namin ‘yung bodega, wala ng reward system.”

In just eight months, the country’s interdiction efforts — spearheaded by the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) — have led to the seizure of six tons of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu). Consequently, the street price of shabu has risen by 35%, from P5,000 to P6,800 per gram — a clear sign of curtailed supply.

“So, the drug war is working without killing anyone. Hindi kailangang pumatay para manalo sa drug war,”�he said.

During the same event, PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez said that PBBM’s Enhanced Anti-Drug Strategy is producing strong results with the seizure of ₱82 billion worth of illegal drugs in just three years, which is close to� the previous administration’s drug haul for six years. He said 9,686 high-value targets were also arrested in the first three years of PBBM, which is significantly higher than the those nabbed in the first three years of the past administration.

This renewed focus on integrity and transparency under the Marcos administration sends a strong message: the Philippine government is serious about eliminating illegal drugs, but not at the cost of justice or human lives.

Original Article At: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/DILG-No-Killings-Under-PBBMs-Reshaped-Anti-Illegal-Drug-Campaign/NC-2025-1129