THE Philippine National Police (PNP) on Monday said the anti-drug campaign of the Marcos administration saw a decline in the number of drug laboratories being dismantled in the country.

PNP Officer in Charge and Deputy Chief for Administration LtGen. Rhodel Sermonia told reporters in a media briefing that the anti-drug campaign has been effective as there are fewer drug laboratories.

“Unlike before, we do not see so many drug laboratories anymore. We used to seize tons of chemicals used in drug manufacturing. Now we only dismantle small ones. This is a manifestation that they are getting weaker. Some are just small-time, and we cannot even call them laboratories,” Sermonia said.

“It only goes to show that the current administration is doing well,” he added.

Sermonia made the remarks at the

sidelines of the launch of the new anti-drug campaign “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” (BIDA) at the PNP headquarters at Camp Crame.

He admitted, though, that there are casualties that cannot be avoided in their anti-drug campaign, even as the government continues to uphold the protection of human rights.

Sermonia said that police have the right to defend themselves when in danger.

The official added the BIDA program includes providing livelihood opportunities for drug surrenderers.

“The BIDA strategy, being a whole-of-nation approach, also includes skills and development program. When we say skills and development program or training, they have to learn something to make a living or to work on, of course through the help of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority,” he said.

“The Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of Labor and Employment will also come in so we will know what industries can give them jobs,” he added.

The BIDA program is a nationwide anti-illegal drugs advocacy involving local government units, national government agencies, and other key sectors of society that will focus more on drug demand reduction and rehabilitation in the communities coupled with arrests.

Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the program aims to reduce drug demand and rehabilitate drug dependents.

The BIDA program will work with the villages, the church and religious communities and the general public in addressing the country’s illegal drug woes and rehabilitating illegal drug victims.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government said that over 24,000 illicit drug personalities have been nabbed.

“The raids on drug dens and the police and other authorities’ pursuit of drug lords, financiers and drug peddlers will not stop. It’s still going on,” Abalos said. “The police should not be the only ones to act. Citizens are our partners in the anti-drug campaign. We must all take action and become BIDA advocates.”

He said P9.9 billion worth of illegal drugs have been confiscated in drug operations.