Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the administration of Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. has successfully abolished the reward system that once encouraged corruption and illegal drug recycling among law enforcement officers.

During the post-SONA discussions on Tuesday, Remulla pointed out that, in the past, a reward system incentivized drug enforcers to aggressively pursue anti-drug operations—sometimes to the extent of killing drug suspects and planting evidence to claim cash rewards. He also mentioned the so-called “ninja cops,” who would keep up to 90% of confiscated drugs, turn over only 10% to authorities, and recycle the rest for resale on the streets.

He said this system was dismantled by the President, who ordered a halt to “bodega” operations to prevent hoarding of illegal drugs and the implementation of no-reward policy. “Ngayon po may sistema na within so many days may destruction kaagad, wala na pong recycling ng drugs ngayon sa Pilipinas. Hindi na tayo nagbobodega, diretso sunog na,” he said.

According to Remulla, the current destruction process of seized drugs is also very thorough and scientific, ensuring that there are no remaining narcotics components and preventing any possibility of recycling. “Under 700 degrees of heat for 12 hours, ginigiling po talaga yung drugs na ‘yan, tapos it takes another 12 hours to cool down, tapos titingnan yung abo, ite-test yun sa laboratoryo, kung may drug component pa rin siya.”

Through this reform, the DILG Chief said methamphetamine prices went up by 35%, signaling a significant curtailment of supply and a successful shift from consumption-based to supply-side anti-drug strategies.

Furthermore, he said the administration’s drug war operates without resorting to killings. “The drug war is working without killing anyone.

Original Article At: https://dilg.gov.ph/news/Remulla-No-Reward-System-Drug-Recycling-Under-Marcos-Admin/NC-2025-1126