By Benjamin F.Cuaresma
MANILA, Philippines — The Marcos administration is set to overhaul the government’s anti-illegal drugs strategy, with a new executive order expected to formalize an expanded approach to fighting narcotics use and trafficking before the end of the year.
Marikina Rep. Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro said Wednesday that the Presidential Management Staff is reviewing the 2018 Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy (PADS), with an enhanced version expected by December.
“We are waiting for the enhanced PADS based on the executive order because the times and issues are changing,” Teodoro, vice chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, told lawmakers while sponsoring the Dangerous Drugs Board’s proposed P418-million budget for next year.
Teodoro said the government is broadening its anti-drug campaign beyond traditional enforcement by incorporating health, social and developmental services into the national strategy.
The expanded approach seeks to address drug abuse through a more comprehensive combination of prevention, rehabilitation and enforcement measures.
Teodoro said the original PADS, adopted in 2018, was built around two principal areas: reducing the supply of illegal drugs through law enforcement and reducing demand through preventive programs.
“When the executive order was first issued, there were only two focuses: the first one is the so-called supply reduction, so more on the enforcement; and drug demand reduction, so preventive,” he said.
The government’s revised framework comes as President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. continues to promote what his administration describes as a “bloodless” anti-drug campaign, placing greater emphasis on rehabilitation while maintaining efforts to suppress the illegal drug trade.
The approach differs from the campaign pursued under former President Rodrigo Duterte, whose administration mounted an aggressive anti-drug crackdown that resulted in thousands of deaths among suspected drug users and dealers, according to government and rights groups’ differing counts.
Duterte is also facing proceedings before the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity linked to killings during his administration’s anti-drug campaign.
Under the proposed overhaul, the government is moving toward a wider policy framework that treats the illegal drug problem not only as a law-enforcement issue but also as a concern involving health, social welfare and community development.
The enhanced PADS is expected to serve as the administration’s updated blueprint for coordinating these efforts as the country confronts changing patterns and challenges in the illegal drug problem.
ia/xf
