The remarks of the US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State James Walsh hint of a growing appreciation of the positive impact of the administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign.
Our colleagues in the ASEAN, and China and Japan, have fully supported our efforts to contain the manufacture and proliferation of illegal drugs. These efforts are anchored on respect for human rights, cognizant of our obligation to protect our people’s right to life and to live in peace and security. And we wish to reiterate that extrajudicial killings never had – and will never have – a place in the anti-illegal drug campaign.
The significant strides of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the conduct of anti-drug operations have been noteworthy with dens and clandestine laboratories dismantled and drugs seized with fewer drug-related deaths.
We are confident that the re-launch of the Philippine National Police Operation Tokhang would have similar results. This early, there have been hundreds of surrenderees and no casualty on its first day.
