THE Police Regional Office-Davao Region (PRO-Davao) reaffirmed that the Philippine National Police’s (PNP) anti-illegal drug campaign remains fully operational nationwide.
In an exclusive interview with VoxPop Davao on November 27, 2024, PRO-Davao spokesperson Major Catherine Dela Rey dismissed claims that the campaign was being dismantled, referring to an alleged “legal document” shared with their office by a media outlet.
“Dili ni to sya tinood. Wala pud mi nadawat nga mando from the Camp Crame. Padayon ug mas gipakusgan namo ang amoang program against illegal drugs and other illegal-drug-related activities (There is no truth to this claim. We have not received any directive from Camp Crame. In fact, we continue to intensify our programs against illegal drugs and related activities),” Dela Rey said, adding that the PNP will continue its efforts to promote and eradicate drug trafficking and smuggling in every region in the country.
She said that PRO-Davao does not know the purported termination of the program, reiterating that no such memorandum has been issued.
“Wala mi kabalo sa existence ani. If naa man, willing mi makig-cooperate pero as far as our agency is concerned, dili ni mahitabo. Padayon atoang cooperation pud sa ubang government agency regarding the said campaign (If such a document exists, we are willing to cooperate. However, as far as our agency is concerned, this will not happen. We remain committed to collaborating with other government agencies to combat illegal drugs),” Dela Rey said.
The alleged document claimed that City and Municipal Police Stations (C/MPS) were restricted from conducting anti-illegal drug operations within their areas of responsibility. Instead, it suggested that their role should focus on safeguarding communities, promoting human rights, and gathering intelligence to address drug distribution and protection by powerful individuals.
Meanwhile, the PNP is finalizing its Anti-Illegal Drug Campaign Roadmap 2024-2028, aimed at intensifying efforts against illegal drugs with a rights-based and humane approach.
PNP Chief General Rommel Francisco Marbil underscored that the roadmap builds on "hard-earned lessons from the past" and honors the sacrifices of police personnel.
“This roadmap is a testament to our dedication to protecting lives and upholding human dignity. It honors the heroism of our police force and aims to foster a safer, drug-free Philippines,” Marbil said.
The strategy prioritizes rights-based operations, international collaboration, specialized training, and community engagement. It also envisions an integrated law enforcement system to enhance public trust and streamline national and local cooperation.
The PNP Drug Enforcement Group, led by Brig. Gen. Eleazar Matta, is developing the plan with input from relevant PNP directorates. DEF
