The Philippine National Police (PNP) reaffirmed on Thursday, July 30, that the national campaign against illegal drugs can succeed without unnecessary loss of life, pointing to the seizure of roughly ₱122 billion worth of illicit substances since July 2022.
PNP Chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. credited enhanced inter-agency collaboration for the results, emphasizing that confiscating the drugs and arresting over 206,000 suspects over the past four years demonstrates a strategy rooted in evidence, due process, and human rights.
“The challenge four years ago is whether or not an effective and successful anti-illegal drugs campaign anchored on the rule of law and human rights is possible. We in the PNP proved it, we learned a lot from it, and in strong coordination with other agencies, we will continue marching on,” said Nartatez.
According to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), joint operations conducted across the country from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2026, yielded ₱122.53 billion in illegal drugs. Interior and Local Government Secretary Jonvic Remulla previously noted that these results surpass the ₱91 billion in drugs confiscated during the entire six-year span of the previous administration.
Nartatez underscored the critical joint efforts between the PNP and PDEA, particularly through shared intelligence and coordinated operations.
“Our strong partnership and sustained cooperation with other law enforcement agencies have contributed to curbing the operations of drug syndicates.”
Looking ahead, the PNP chief stated that police forces will keep targeting and dismantling drug dens nationwide to disrupt organized syndicates, assuring the public that future operations will remain strictly guided by evidence, accountability, and the rule of law.