MANILA, Philippines — More than 600 thousand drug pushers and users have already surrendered to authorities just months after President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office.
Following the disclosure of the names allegedly involved in illegal drug trade, several suspected drug lords and an LGU official have also surrendered.
Included is Central Visayas’ number two drug lord, Franz Sabalones.
PNP chief Ronald Dela Rosa recently announced that the crime rate recorded across the country dropped by 49 percent last month.
He says the latest data only proves that many crimes happening in the country are related to illegal drugs.
Presidential Communications Office Secretary Martin Andanar notes that the high number of surrenderees and drop in crime rate are proof of the success of the government’s fight against illegal drugs.
“The direct key performance indicator here is the number of illegal drug user and pusher surrenderees and the LGU officials relentlessly doing their part.”
Despite this, many sectors are criticizing the efforts of the administration against illegal drugs such as the increase in drug-related killings and the arrest of drug personalities without due process.
Andanar, however, says due process is being observed in the pursuit and arrest of individuals suspected to be involved in illegal drugs operations.
“The presumption of innocence and the principle and proving beyond reasonable doubt only happens when the case is filed in the courts… they are saying that it has no due process. But the fact that the others arrested and who surrendered were not immediately jailed proves that due process is being observed.” (DARLENE BASINGAN/UNTV News and Rescue)
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