“We will harness the power of the government, communities, youth, schools, churches, the private sector, and every Filipino. We envision a nation in which no life is lost because of drugs,” he said in a statement.
Abalos also said the implementation of the anti-drug campaign is on the basis of his “oath as a public official in accordance with the Constitution.”
The Department of the Interior and Local Government data showed 24,159 drug suspects have been arrested and ₱9.9-billion worth of illegal drugs have been confiscated in various drug operations from July 1 to Nov. 24, 2022.
Human rights think tank Dahas, meanwhile, said 301 drug-related killings were recorded from Jan. 1 to Nov. 30 this year. Of this number, it said 152 were killed under the Marcos administration.
Based on government figures, 6,252 people were killed in anti-illegal drugs operations during the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte.
Local and international human rights organizations, however, estimate an even higher tally of between 12,000 and 30,000.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, December 8) — The intensity of the war on drugs under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is the same as the previous administration, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said on Wednesday.
