President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. revealed on Monday that his administration has already come close to equaling the total number of drug-related arrests made during the entire term of his predecessor.
Speaking during his fourth State of the Nation Address, Marcos emphasized the scale of the current government’s anti-drug efforts, citing over 153,000 arrests since he took office — including more than 9,600 individuals labeled as “high-value targets.”
“Just last month, I witnessed the destruction of nearly one and a half tons of shabu and various types of illegal drugs,” Marcos said, pointing to the aggressive pace of operations.
What alarmed him the most, he added, was the discovery that more than 677 of those apprehended were government personnel — including over 100 elected officials and more than 50 police officers.
“In just three years, we have nearly matched the total number of arrests made during the previous administration,” Marcos said. “Despite this, it seems that drug pushers are starting to return.”
He assured the public that the crackdown on drug dealers — whether small-time street pushers or major suppliers — will not stop.
