PNP welcomes 88% public support to anti-drug campaign

October 19, 2017

The Philippine National Police welcomes the overwhelming public support to the national anti-drug campaign as a magnanimous recognition of the efforts and sacrifices of the police in keeping our communities safe from drugs.

“We are grateful for this recognition of the efforts of the PNP in the anti-drug campaign, particularly during the 15-month period when we launched Oplan Tokhang and Project: Double Barrel,” PNP Spokesperson, Chief Superintendent Dionardo Carlos said in a statement Thursday.

The September 2017 Nationwide Survey on the Campaign Against Illegal Drugs of Pulse Asia Research Inc. showed 88 percent of Filipinos expressing support to the campaign against illegal drugs.

The same survey also cited observations made by 86 percent of survey respondents that anti-drug operations in the barangay were orderly, in contrast to the observations by 11 percent of respondents that police operations were violent.

The PNP leadership assured the National Prosecution Service of the Department of Justice of the availability of police witnesses and evidence in court proceedings to ensure successful prosecution of cases filed against some 109,000 drug offenders arrested during over 71,000 separate police anti-drug operations.

“Court duty is paramount among all other police duties except combat or tactical engagement,” Carlos said as he emphasized the responsibility of police cases officers and witnesses to attend court duty when summoned by judicial authorities.

According to the letter and intent of the Presidential Memorandum of October 10, 2017 ordering PDEA to be the sole agency in the national anti-drug campaign, the PNP shall provide PDEA with police visibility as deterrent to drug activities, drug-related intelligence and information, as well as all records of pending anti-drug cases filed in court for proper monitoring and endorsement, Carlos explained. DMS