MANILA – Drug-related cases have seen a significant drop in the first two years of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s administration.
Department of Interior and Local Government secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the administration’s supply and demand reduction strategy greatly improved the country’s fight against illegal drugs.
“The government upholds the importance of holistic crime prevention approaches rooted in community engagement and wellness,” Abalos said during the 33rd Session of the United Nations (UN) Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice in Vienna, Austria.
According to Abalos, the supply reduction efforts have seized around $587 million in prohibited narcotics in the first two years of PBBM admin, which is a 700 percent increase over previous years.
“This improvement was made with minimal loss of life,” Abalos said. “It has likewise acknowledged the importance of demand reduction by implementing the value of life, avoid drugs BIDA Project.”
Abalos also said the administration has committed to enhance the criminal justice system and crime prevention strategies in the Philippines to foster peace, harmony and a rules-based order through international cooperation.
The DILG official is currently in Austria as the government fully expressed its bid to a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for 2027-2028.
“Once elected, we will serve our duty with a deep dedication to a peaceful, just and equitable international order that is key to the flourishing of each of our nation’s aspirations for our peoples,” Abalos said.
Abalos ensured the country’s full commitment when it comes to the battle against terrorism, extremism, trafficking in persons, among others.
Further, he called for a united global front and cooperation, saying that it is essential in ensuring the international community’s success against those major transnational crimes./PN
