Atin Ito First Filipino Community Newspaper in Ontario
Cites 177 police officers charged with drugs, other violations
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Tuesday that 177 police officers have been charged for abuses committed during anti-drug operations in Metro Manila.
In a video message shared on social media, the President acknowledged the challenges faced by officials and emphasized the need to address these issues promptly.
“We all know that sometimes our officials get carried away and of course, we can’t just let that slide,” he said in Filipino. “So what happened is, 177 police officers have been charged with drug-related offenses, including the planting of evidence, unlawful arrest, and excessive violence right here in Metro Manila.”
President Marcos also highlighted the Department of Justice (DOJ) efforts, noting that it is pursuing 151,818 court cases, with 121,582 already detained for drug-related violations.
The President said these figures represent tangible progress in the ongoing battle against illicit narcotics, underscoring the administration’s commitment to creating drug-free communities.
“For us, it’s not just about the good numbers. It’s about improvement.
We made our community better, we really improved the lives of our fellow citizens, and we’re keeping our youth away from getting into the drug-taking lifestyle,” he said.
President Marcos earlier reported the seizure of some P10.41 billion worth of illegal drugs from January to December 2023 with over 27,000 barangays being declared drug-free.
The Philippine National Police said it also arrested 56,495 suspects from 44,000 anti-drug operations.
The report added that 50 provinces, 1,160 municipalities, and 30 cities have functional Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (ADACs) to carry out
anti-drug priorities at the local level. Additionally, 74 in-patient treatment and rehabilitation facilities have been established. — Charles Dantes
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Credit belongs to: www.manilastandard.net
