Illegal drug trade in the Philippines

The prevalence of illegal drug use in the Philippines is lower than the global average, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).[1] President Rodrigo Duterte has claimed that the country could become a "narco-state". Two of the most used and valuable illegal drugs in the country are methamphetamine hydrochloride (known locally as shabu) and marijuana.[2][3] In 2012, the United Nations said the Philippines had the highest rate of methamphetamine use in East Asia, and according to a U.S. State Department report, 2.1 percent of Filipinos aged 16 to 64 use the drug[4] based on 2008 figures by the Philippines Dangerous Drugs Board.[5] As of 2016, the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime report that 1.1 percent of Filipinos aged 10 to 69 use the drug.[5] In Metro Manila, most barangays are affected by illegal drugs.[2]

Production

Marijuana

In September 2019, rapper Marlon Peroramas, better known by his stage name "Loonie" and 4 others were arrested on a buy-bust operation in Poblacion, Makati. The group was in possession of 15 sachets of high-grade marijuana with a street value of P100,000. (US$1,928.64)

Main article: Cannabis in the Philippines

Methamphetamine production

Drug syndicates have been producing methamphetamine in small-scale and kitchen-type laboratories to avoid detection by the Philippine authorities since 2010. Usually, drug syndicates rent warehouses for use as drug laboratories. These syndicates have moved towards renting houses in private subdivisions, condominiums and apartments to be used as bases for their illegal drug production. Private properties are becoming more favorable to drug syndicates as sites of illegal drug production.[6]

Methamphetamine remains more feasible to sell in the Philippines than cocaine, a more costly illegal drug.[7]

Owing to its geographical location, international drug syndicates use the Philippines as a transit hub for the illegal drug trade.[2][8] Some local drug syndicates are also involved in the international illegal drug trade, and utilize drug mules to transport small amounts of illegal drugs to other countries. Some overseas Filipino workers have been utilized by drug syndicates as drug mules, either knowingly or unknowingly. Most Filipino drug mules, mainly women, are sent to China, where drug convicts will face execution via lethal injection.[9] The Ninoy Aquino International Airport has been identified as a favorable illegal drug trafficking hub.[6]

Some Filipinos choose to be involved in drug trafficking due to the promise of a high income. Some still participate in such illicit activity because they are forced by certain circumstances. There were reports in the past that some Filipinos, usually women, were forced and blackmailed by drug syndicates to work as drug couriers, and if they refused, their family's safety would be compromised.[10]

A Manila-based firm, Pacific Strategies & Assessments, identified the Philippines as, "not only a transhipment point, but also a key producer of synthetic drugs for all of Asia" in a report made in 2009.[11]

In December 2013, the Philippine National Police – Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force and the Philippine Drug Enforcement confirmed reports that the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel had started operations in the country.[10][12] Methamphetamine has also been manufactured in North Korea and brought into the Philippines.

Chinese cartel involvement

About nine Chinese drug cartels are involved on most illegal drug trade in the Philippines.[13] The U.S. Department of State found out that Chinese drug cartels are behind the trade of methamphetamine hydrochloride on the Philippines.[2][14]

The president divulged the names of the members of a large Chinese triad group in an interview with PTV-4 on July 7. The members of the triad group included Chinese drug lords, namely Wu Tuan, aka tatay Co, Jameson Ching, Peter Lim, aka tiger balm, and Herbert Colangco, with the three under the protection of Marcelo Garbo Jr, one of the Philippine National Police generals named by Duterte on July 5.[15]

Mexican Cartel Involvement

In a raid on a small cock-fighting operation in Lipa city, officials found 84 kilograms of methamphetamine also known by the locals as "shabu."[16] In the raid three affiliates of the Sinaloa Cartel were arrested, the Sinaloa Cartel being lead by drug lord Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

Trade value

In 2010 a U.S. International Narcotics Control Strategy Report stated that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General estimated the illegal drug trade in the Philippines at $6.4 to $8.4 billion annually.[17][18]

Party drugs

MDMA (ecstasy), one of the party drugs, is the third most abused drug, next to cannabis and methamphetamine.[19]

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency discovered the production of "fly high", after a raid on a condominium unit in Makati.[20] The effects of use of fly high includes sleeplessness, loss of appetite, and high libido.[21]

In May 2019, 39 bricks of cocaine valued at around 4 million were found by fishermen in the Philippines. While officials believe that this cocaine was in transit to Australia, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency believes this was intended to be a diversion.[22]

Drug use among minors

Inhalants are commonly used among minors, especially street children.[19] Street children in the Philippines are most likely to be inhalant abusers.[23]

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency statistics of 2014 recorded 40% of minors arrested for drug possession,[24] and drug syndicates use children as drug pushers.[25] Children arrested for drug possession or use are brought to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in compliance to Republic Act No. 9344 (Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006).[25]

Campaign against illegal drugs
Main article: Philippine Drug War

Rodrigo Duterte, after his inauguration on June 30, called a speech full of swearing in Tondo, Manila and urged people to kill drug pushers in exchange for bounty.[26]

Arrests

Most arrests related to illegal drugs involves users of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu).[2][27]

Involvement of government officials and employees

From 2010 to 2015, 623 government officials and employees were arrested for drug possession, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Of these, 45% were government employees while 30% were elected officials and 25% were police. Several government officials have been arrested for drug possession, like former PDEA Special Enforcement Service director and Lieutenant Colonel Ferdinand Marcelino but released months later after some clarification in the ongoing investigation.[28]

There are also alleged involvement of Philippine National Police generals on drug trade. On July 5, 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte named five generals alleged to be involved in drugs: Marcelo Garbo Jr., Joel Pagdilao, Edgardo Tinio, Bernardo Diaz, and Vic Loot. All five claim not to have any involvement in illegal drugs.[29]

In his I am sorry for my country speech, President Duterte revealed the names of 150 government officials that have been found to be involved in illegal drug trade. There have also been allegations of government officials' involvement in illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison.

Deaths

A week after Rodrigo Duterte was inaugurated on June 30, 2016, it was reported that about 1,000 drug pushers and users had been killed in police operations and around 1,000 killed in drug-related incidents.[30] A March 2017 INCSR report by the United States State Department estimated that 6000 extrajudicial killings had resulted from "police actions and vigilantism".[31]

The total number of deaths associated with the war on drugs fluctuates depending on the source. In June 2019, the government reported a death toll of 5,526 deaths of "drug personalities." While in that same month a former police chief reported that the number was closer to 6,700. In December 2018, the country's Commission on Human Rights (CHR) estimated that death toll could be as high as 27,000.[32] Police told local media in March 2019 that since the drug war was launched, there were approximately 29,000 killings, of which 3,062 or about 9.47 percent were illegal drug-related.[33]

Criticism

Ifugao congressman Teodoro Baguilat and senator Leila de Lima called for an investigation on the cases of killings of drug pushers by police, due to the alarming rise of deaths of drug pushers in police operations. Baguilat expressed concerns on the rising number of deaths of drug pushers and users that if the rate of deaths of drug pushers and users continue to increase, people will soon be involved in killing suspected drug personalities.[34]

Support

The New People's Army initially supported Duterte's war against drugs, especially on government officials, police, and the military until August 2016.[35] A poll released in September 2019 found that the war on drugs has an 82% satisfaction rate among Filipino citizens.[36] Additionally, in that same poll, Duterte's approval rating was at 78%.

gollark: These ones are weird.
gollark: Something like that?
gollark: Assuming my assumptions are correct, I mean.
gollark: Problem is that while the increase will be slowed, the price will, for a while anyway, be at 100 shards above the limit of affording it.
gollark: Of course, you won't be able to actually *buy* one during the initial-wave purchases unless you get in early.

See also

General:

Notes
  1. "Philippines: Duterte's 100 days of carnage". Amnesty International. Retrieved October 8, 2016.
  2. Ranada, Pia (January 5, 2016). "A look at the state of crime, drugs in the Philippines". Rappler. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  3. "Fact on Drugs". Dangerous Drugs Board. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  4. Mogato, Manuel; Chalmers, John (June 29, 2016). "As Duterte takes over in Philippines, police killings stir fear". Reuters.
  5. "Prevalence of Drug use in the General Population – National Data". United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime. 2016. Retrieved Jul 2018. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  6. "Illicit Drug Trafficking". Philippine Center on Transnational Crime. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  7. Dizon, David (December 26, 2013). "World's most powerful drug cartel now in PH". ABS-CBNnews.com. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  8. Sy Egco, Joel M. (January 1, 2014). "PH center of world drug trade". The Manila Times. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  9. "Filipino drug mules". Al Jazeera. April 5, 2011. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  10. Arcangel, Xianne (August 20, 2013). "Pinoys still being nabbed for drugs abroad despite executions". GMA News. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  11. Wilson, Karl (March 15, 2010). "Philippines poll 'hit by drugs trade'". The National. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  12. PDEA 2013, p. 17.
  13. Ramirez, Robertzon (November 27, 2016). "Chinese gangs behind Philippine illegal drug trade". The Philippine Star. Philstar. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  14. Esplanada, Jerry E. (June 28, 2012). "Chinese drug syndicates behind drug trade in Philippines, says US". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  15. Kabiling, Genalyn (July 7, 2016). "Palace reveals Chinese triad involved in illegal drugs". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  16. Peter Shadbolt, for. "Philippines raid reveals Mexican drug cartel presence in Asia". CNN. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  17. "INCSR 2010 Volume 1: Country Reports" (PDF). United States Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. March 1, 2010. p. 509.
  18. Xianne Arcangel (August 20, 2013). "Pinoys still being nabbed for drugs abroad despite executions". GMA News.
  19. PDEA 2012, p. 15.
  20. Villamente, Jing (January 28, 2014). "'Fly high' pill a mixture of ecstasy, shabu, viagra". The Manila Times. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  21. Cupin, Bea (May 21, 2014). "PH 'fly high' drug: Lethal mix of ecstasy, shabu". Rappler. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  22. "Cocaine bricks keep washing up in the Philippines". July 9, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  23. Njord, L; Merrill, RM; Njord, R; Lindsay, R; Pachano, JD (April 22, 2016). "Drug use among street children and non—street children in the Philippines". Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health. 22: 203–11. doi:10.1177/1010539510361515. PMID 20457649.
  24. Ramirez, Robertzon (February 22, 2015). "More minors arrested for drugs in 2014". The Philippine Star. Philstar. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  25. Yap, DJ (June 11, 2011). "More kids used in drug trade". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  26. "Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte urged people to kill drug addicts". Associated Press. July 1, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016 – via The Guardian.
  27. PDEA 2013, p. 14.
  28. Santos, Elmor P. (February 4, 2016). "Drug relate arrests involving gov't officials, employees increasing – PDEA". CNN Philippines. Retrieved May 7, 2016.
  29. Ranada, Pia (July 5, 2016). "Duterte names alleged police generals in drug trade". Rappler. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  30. "Dozens killed in first four days of Duterte's drug war". Al Jazeera. July 5, 2016. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  31. "International Narcotics Control Strategy Report" (PDF). United States Department of State Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. March 1, 2017. p. 244. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 2, 2017.
  32. Giles, Howard Johnson and Christopher (November 12, 2019). "How many have died in Philippines drugs war?". Retrieved December 2, 2019.
  33. Tupas, Emmanuel (March 6, 2019). "29,000 deaths probed since drug war launched". The Philippine Star. Retrieved June 13, 2020. At least 29,000 cases of killings categorized as deaths under inquiry (DUI) have been recorded nationwide since President Duterte launched his crackdown on illegal drugs, according to the Philippine National Police (PNP). ... However, he clarified that only 3,062 or about 9.47 percent of the cases are related to illegal drugs while the rest were brought by other motivations such as personal grudges.
  34. Dumlao, Artemio (July 8, 2016). "Congress eyes probe on spate of drug killings". The Philippine Star. Retrieved July 9, 2016.
  35. "Thirty killed in four days in Philippine war on drugs". July 4, 2016. Retrieved January 18, 2018 – via Reuters.
  36. Cabato, Regine (October 23, 2019). "Thousands dead. Police accused of criminal acts. Yet Duterte's drug war is wildly popular". Washington Post. Retrieved December 2, 2019.

References
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