The illegal drug trade
in the Philippines remains a serious
national concern. Two of the most used and valuable illegal drugs in the
country are methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu)
and marijuana.[1][2] Ephedrine and methylenedioxy
methamphetamine are also among the list of illegal drugs
that are of great concern to the authorities.[3]According
to Reuters, the President-elect of the Philippines Rodrigo
Duterte has predicted the country could become a 'narco-state'
if the country's tide of drug addiction is not pushed back. 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, which is known locally as
"shabu".[4] On Metro
Manila, most barangays are being
affected by illegal drugs.[1] According to the 2011 UN Drug Report, the
Philippines has the highest methamphetamine
hydrochloride abuse rate.[5]
Marijuana[edit]
The Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency identified that the mountainous parts of Northern Luzon,
Eastern Visayas and Mindanao are viable for marijuana cultivation. Marijuana
produced in the country is distributed locally and is also exported to other
countries. Local distribution of marijuana increased in 2012 despite
destruction of illegal marijuana plantations.[3]
Methamphetamine production[edit]
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.[3]
Methamphetamine
remains more feasible to sell in the Philippines than cocaine, a more costly
illegal drug.[6]
Transnational drug trade[edit]
Owing to its
geographical location, international drug syndicates use the Philippines as a
transit hub for the illegal drug trade.[1][7] 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.[8]The Ninoy Aquino International
Airport has been identified as a favorable illegal drug
trafficking hub.[3]
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.[9]
The 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.[10]
In December 2013, the Philippine National Police - Anti-Illegal Drugs
Special Operations Task Force and the Philippine Drug Enforcement confirmed
reports that the MexicanSinaloa Cartel had started operations in the
country.[9][11]
Chinese cartel involvement[edit]
About nine Chinese drug cartels are involved on most illegal drug
trade in the Philippines.[12] The U.S. Department of State found out that Chinese
drug cartels are behind the trade of methamphetamine
hydrochloride on the Philippines.[1][5]
President divulged
the names of the members of a large Chinese triad group in a interview with
PTV-4 on July 7. The members of the triad group included Chinese drug lords,
namely Wu Tuan, aka tatay Co, 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.[13]
Trade value[edit]
As of 2013, the
illegal drug trade in the Philippines amounted to $8.4 billion.[6]
Party drugs[edit]
MDMA (ecstasy),
one of the party drugs, is the third most abused drug, next to
cannabis and methamphetamine.[14]
The Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency discovered the production of "fly high",
after a raid on a condominium unit in Makati.[15] The
effects of use of fly high includessleeplessness, loss of appetite,
and high libido.[16]
Drug use among minors[edit]
Inhalants are commonly used among minors,
especially street children.[14] Street
children in the Philippines are most likely to be inhalant abusers.[17]
Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency statistics of 2014 recorded 40% of minors arrested for drug
possession,[18] and drug syndicates use
children as drug pushers.[19] 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).[19]
Campaign against illegal drugs[edit]
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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.[20]
Arrests[edit]
Most arrests related
to illegal drugs involves users of methamphetamine hydrochloride (shabu).[1][21]
Involvement of government officials and employees[edit]
About 45% of
government employees are mainly arrested for drug possession, according to
the Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency (PDEA). 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.[22]
There are also
alleged involvement of Philippine National Police generals on drug trade.
On July 5, 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte named 5 generals alleged to be
involved in drugs, namely Marcelo Garbo Jr., Joel Pagdilao, Edgardo Tinio,
Bernardo Diaz, and Vic Loot. All of the five claim they did not have any
involvement in illegal drugs.[23]
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[edit]
About 1000 drug
pushers and users have been killed in police operations and around 1000 killed
in drug related incidents since Rodrigo Duterte was inaugurated in June 30,
2016.[24]
Criticism[edit]
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 opearations. 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.[25]
Support[edit]
The New People's Army supports Duterte's war against
drugs, especially on government officials, police, and the military.[26]
See also[edit]
General:
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