The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reported that the Duterte administration’s unrelenting drive against illegal drugs has led to their seizure of around P80 billion worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu.
Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año made the disclosure during the public address of President Duterte last Monday.
Duterte asked Año for the total worth of shabu, which were “embargoed” during his term, which the President said he intends to use to justify the government’s war against illegal drugs before the International Criminal Court (ICC).
“Maybe when the time comes, we will use it to show to the ICC na that’s the reason why we are not—I am not going to bow down to their jurisdiction because they would see the enormity of the problem of shabu in the country,” Duterte said.
Año said he will submit the comprehensive report on the government’s anti-drug operations in his next meeting with the President.
But based on the latest data of the DILG, law enforcement authorities were able to confiscate 8.3 kilograms of shabu and 137.3 kilograms of marijuana with a total estimated value of over P72.8 million from December 5 to 11, 2021.
Duterte is currently facing an ICC investigation on the alleged killings of drug suspects in the government campaign against illegal drugs.
He repeatedly said he will not cooperate with the ICC probe over the said drug-related killing, insisting that it has no jurisdiction to try him on the matter.
