Rodrigo Duterte’s “war on drugs” remains one of the most contentious legacies of his presidency. While it fulfilled his campaign promise of a hardline stance against illegal drugs, it also triggered intense local and international scrutiny, culminating in an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court (ICC) on charges of “crimes against humanity. Critics denounce the campaign against illegal drugs as marked by human rights violations. While ordinary Filipinos laud Duterte as a strong-willed leader who prioritized law and order to safeguard communities, particularly the youth, from drug-related harm to secure the nation’s future.
Gains
The fight against illegal drugs of Duterte’s administration has gained traction and made significant results. Based on official government data, as of May 2021, the recorded anti-illegal drug operations conducted are 203,715. In these anti-illegal drug operations, over 289,000 drug users and peddlers and around 12,356 “high-value targets” were arrested. Around 6,117 suspects died during official anti-drug operations by various law enforcement agencies.
Another success in the fight against illegal drugs was the more or less 1.3 million drug dependents or surrenderers who voluntarily capitulated and yielded and have undergone drug rehabilitation and treatment. Also, as of May 2021, around 3,736 children were also rescued from anti-illegal drug operations. Likewise, the total value of illegal drugs confiscated amounted to a total of PHP 59.93 billion (US$1.19 billion) worth of shabu, cocaine, marijuana, and other illegal drug substances as of May 2021. Law enforcers were also able to dismantle around 807 illegal drug dens and clandestine laboratories from July 2016 to May 2021. Also as of June 2021, about 64 percent of the country’s crime volume, more particularly drug-related crimes, had declined, and the streets had significantly become safer for ordinary Filipinos. Based on the 2020 Global Law and Order Report by international analytics firm Gallup, the Philippines was among the top 50 safest countries in the world with an index score of 84 and is tied with Australia, New Zealand, Poland, and Serbia. The country’s score in 2020 is slightly higher than the country’s 82 index score for the world in 2019. In the ASEAN region, the Philippines ranked fourth, while Singapore ranked first in terms of safest countries. Also, as of May 2021, about 22,093 barangays had been cleared from illegal drugs. The Duterte administration also implemented regional drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers, like the Mega Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija.
Conclusion
Although the problem of illegal drugs has not been eradicated totally during Duterte’s time, it can’t be denied that this social menace has improved positively and significantly during his tenure compared to the situation before his assumption to the presidency. As the saying goes, numbers don’t lie, and these numbers have, to a greater extent, brought a strong sense of comfort, security, and peace of mind to ordinary Filipinos when Duterte was still at the helm of power.
Source: The Lobbyist
https://www.thelobbyist.biz/perspectives/article-details/prime%20insight/dutertes-drug-war-between-justice-order-and-controversy
