Marcos admin arrests over 153K drug suspects, seizes PHP80B drugs

Halfway into President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s term, his administration's anti-narcotics drive has arrested over 153,000 drug suspects and seized PHP80 billion worth of drugs from July 2022 to June 2025.

Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla highlighted the effectiveness of the campaign in reducing drug-related violence while criticizing the previous administration's alleged practice of gaming the system by storing confiscated drugs.

The supply of illegal drugs has decreased, causing a significant increase in street prices for methamphetamine from PHP5,000 to PHP6,800 per gram.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director-General Isagani Nerez attributed the success to an enhanced strategy emphasizing human rights and noted that high-value targets have increased under Marcos's administration.

The government plans to roll out a unified 911 emergency response system in September, offering faster and more accessible services with regional language support for better communication.