The more relaxed quarantine restrictions may have allowed drug traffickers to enhance their illicit operations, the country’s interior chief said, vowing to intensify the government’s anti-illegal drugs crackdown to protect the public.

In his report to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Monday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said they observed a marked increase in the volume of confiscated illegal drugs after the government loosened quarantine restrictions.

“Ang gusto ko pong ipakita, Mr. President, ay ang biglang paglaki ng ating mga nasamsam na mga illegal drugs. Ito po ay umabot sa P424,747,925, almost kalahating bilyon po. Ikumpara natin po last week na ito ay P159 million lang,” Año said.

“So ito po ay maaaring bunga na din ng pagluluwag natin, nagkaroon ng mobility, kumilos ang mga tao at puwedeng samantalahin po ng mga illegal drug traders.”

“Lalo pa natin paiigtingin ang ating mga operation para siguradong hindi mapagsamantalahan ng mga illegal drug operators ang ating pagbaba ng kaso at pagluluwag sa Alert Level 1.”

Even during the pandemic, authorities have recently conducted 916 anti-illegal drug operations. These resulted in the arrest of 1,307 violators, and 76 suspects surrendering. One offender was killed in police operations.

Año also told the President that they are focusing on crimes after the number of index crime increased, particularly physical injuries and theft.

These offenses happened mostly near business establishments and malls. “Kaya naman mas marami pang mga pulis ang ating ide-deploy bilang paghahanda at maging deterrent sa mga criminals,” he said. PND