PNP says news agency misquoted anti-drug chief

February 10, 2020

The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said PNP- Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) Police Brigadier General Romeo Caramat Jr denied a news agency's  report saying the government’s approach in ending illegal drugs is not effective.

In a statement, Police Brigadier General Bernard Banac said Caramat told the PNP organization that he was misquoted.

“PBGen Romeo Caramat Jr. denied all the statements attributed to him, saying that he was totally misquoted,” Banac said.

Quoting Caramat, Banac said the PNP anti-drug chief is challenging Reuters to release evidence that he said those things.

If proven true, Caramat said he is more than willing to be relieved immediately.

In the article released last February 7, Reuters said according to Caramat, “shock and awe” did not work in their campaign as illegal drug supply is still rampant.

Also in the article, Caramat agreed with the critics that the campaign only targeted low-level operatives.

However, Banac said the government’s effort continues without let-up. 

“The supply reduction strategy remains the backbone of this police campaign although the focus has been shifted from the street level peddlers to the higher level dealers engaged in the trafficking of commercial quantity of drugs (crystal meth) 50 grams or more,” he said.

Over the past three years, the campaign was able to shutdown the operations of 14 clandestine crystal meth laboratories and 419 drug dens in different parts of the country. So far there are no more signs that indicate local production of methamphetamine products in the Philippines,” he added.

According to their data, a total of P40.39 billion worth of shabu, marijuana, cocaine, and ecstacy pills were removed from the streets.

“Since the national crusade against illegal drugs was launched in 2016 until the 4th quarter of 2019, a total of 151,601 separate anti-drug operations were conducted resulting in the arrest of 220,728 drug law violators among them, 8,185 high value targets and the death of 5,552 drug personalities,” Banac said.

He said these operations led to the clearing of 16,706 drug-affected barangays in different localities.

“On the softhand approach to the drug problem, 421,724 drug patients were treated under PNP-initiated and supported community centers recovery and wellness programs,” he added. Ella Dionisio/DMS