The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday maintained that its records on the illegal drugs campaign is accurate and transparent.
PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, in a radio interview, asserted they are ready to present their own, and real data on the anti-illegal drugs drive.
Fajardo made the assurance to dispel public doubts on the accuracy of the PNP’s data triggered by negative comments from certain quarters.
“We are even sharing it (data) from the very start. Even the casualties on the side of the PNP. So, as far as the PNP is concerned, the reported 46 casualties in illegal drugs campaign is stated in the PNP records,” she said.
Fajardo was reacting to allegations raised by Phil Robertson, deputy director for Human Rights Watch (HRW) Asia, who accused the PNP of “undercounting” recent drug deaths.
In an article dated Nov. 17, Robertson claimed that the 46 drug-related deaths since President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. took office on June 30 was far below the “estimate” of the University of the Philippines’ Third World Studies Center.
He also accused the government of not making any real efforts towards the shift to drug “rehabilitation.”
Contrary to Robertson’s claim, Fajardo said many drug users are now turning a new leaf in life.
Fajardo said based on the data from the PNP recovery and wellnessprogram for drug surrenderers, from July 2016 to October 2022, there are 654,228 graduates. This is more than 50 percent of the reported 1.2 million drug surrenderers.
“These are the indications that not only the PNP but the government itself is really serious when it comes to the demand reduction program kung saan malaki ang magagawa nito para bumaba ‘yung ating problema, kung hindi man totally ma-eradicate yung problema natin sa droga (that is a big factor in reducing the problem, if not totally eradicate our problem in drugs),” she said.
Earlier, PNP chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. said since President Marcos assumed office in July, the PNP’s aggressive campaign against illegal drugs yielded over PHP9.7 billion worth of illegal drugs and arrested 22,646 drug personalities.
He said in the 18,505 anti-illegal drug operations the PNP undertook during that time, only 46 suspects were killed.
Azurin also recognized the President’s full support for PNP’s “more focused holistic approach” to putting a stop to drugs and criminality.