The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has reiterated that the current administration opposes extrajudicial killings and continues to uphold human rights in its campaign against illegal drugs.
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said the government can address the country’s drug problem without resorting to killing suspects.
According to Remulla, the administration maintains that law enforcement operations must follow the law and respect the rights of individuals.
He emphasized that the country will not progress if individuals who are merely suspected of involvement in illegal activities are immediately killed.
Instead, the government’s anti-drug strategy is focused on targeting high-level personalities in the illegal drug trade.
Remulla said authorities are concentrating on arresting so-called “big fish” involved in drug trafficking.
The interior secretary also noted that a large portion of the shabu seized in the Philippines does not originate locally.
According to him, most of the illegal drugs confiscated by authorities are imported from other countries and brought into the Philippines through international trafficking networks.
The government continues to strengthen efforts to intercept these shipments and dismantle organized drug syndicates behind the trade.
The DILG reiterated that the anti-drug campaign will remain focused on law enforcement operations that comply with legal procedures while pursuing major figures involved in the illegal drug trade.
