PNP welcomes UN statement on global fight vs illegal drugs
Published Oct 13, 2018 05:08 pm
By Martin Sadongdong
The Philippine National Police (PNP) on Saturday welcomed the statement of the United Nations (UN) calling for a global action to fight the scourge of illegal drugs.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde (Kevin Tristan Espiritu / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, there is a need for a "worldwide action" on illegal drugs use and trafficking while acknowledging it has already become a "global concern" that needs to be addressed by the international community.
"The Philippine National Police welcomes the development of the United Nations recognizing that illegal drugs use is a world problem," said PNP chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde in a statement sent to reporters.
"With the United Nations’ recognition, the PNP will be more strengthened to fight the menace of drug syndicates that are continuously affecting our communities," he added.
In the local setting, the national government's campaign against illegal drugs was met with satisfaction by 78 percent of Filipinos, according to a recently released survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
The PNP said the support of the majority must have been because of the decline in the crime rate across the country.
From the previous 1.5-million estimated crime victims or 6.6 percent of the population during the first quarter of 2018, the rate of crime victimization was reduced by 1.3 points to only 5.3 percent of the population, representing 1.2-million persons in the second quarter of 2018, the PNP said.
Meanwhile, the total crime volume decreased by 15.61 percent in January to August 2018 as compared with the crime volume during the same period in 2017, while the decrease noted in the crime victimization rate between the first and second quarters of 2018 is even wider at 20 percent, it added.
Critics, however, are wary of the number of persons being killed in the government's drug war.
PNP data showed that a total of 4,854 drug personalities have been killed in 108,059 operations nationwide from July 1, 2016 to August 31, 2018.
Albayalde said that with the participation of other countries in the global fight against the illegal drugs menace, the Philippines can "win" its drug war.
"With other countries coming together and working collectively in facing this problem, the PNP believes that, in due time, we will win the war against illegal drugs and crime rate will continuously be reduced," Albayalde noted.
"This campaign against illegal drugs is part of the President’s goal of a drug-free and crime-free Philippines," he added.
PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde (Kevin Tristan Espiritu / MANILA BULLETIN)
According to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, there is a need for a "worldwide action" on illegal drugs use and trafficking while acknowledging it has already become a "global concern" that needs to be addressed by the international community.
"The Philippine National Police welcomes the development of the United Nations recognizing that illegal drugs use is a world problem," said PNP chief, Director General Oscar Albayalde in a statement sent to reporters.
"With the United Nations’ recognition, the PNP will be more strengthened to fight the menace of drug syndicates that are continuously affecting our communities," he added.
In the local setting, the national government's campaign against illegal drugs was met with satisfaction by 78 percent of Filipinos, according to a recently released survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
The PNP said the support of the majority must have been because of the decline in the crime rate across the country.
From the previous 1.5-million estimated crime victims or 6.6 percent of the population during the first quarter of 2018, the rate of crime victimization was reduced by 1.3 points to only 5.3 percent of the population, representing 1.2-million persons in the second quarter of 2018, the PNP said.
Meanwhile, the total crime volume decreased by 15.61 percent in January to August 2018 as compared with the crime volume during the same period in 2017, while the decrease noted in the crime victimization rate between the first and second quarters of 2018 is even wider at 20 percent, it added.
Critics, however, are wary of the number of persons being killed in the government's drug war.
PNP data showed that a total of 4,854 drug personalities have been killed in 108,059 operations nationwide from July 1, 2016 to August 31, 2018.
Albayalde said that with the participation of other countries in the global fight against the illegal drugs menace, the Philippines can "win" its drug war.
"With other countries coming together and working collectively in facing this problem, the PNP believes that, in due time, we will win the war against illegal drugs and crime rate will continuously be reduced," Albayalde noted.
"This campaign against illegal drugs is part of the President’s goal of a drug-free and crime-free Philippines," he added.