Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. revealed on Tuesday that police successfully seized a significant amount of methamphetamine without any casualties, marking a departure from the deadly drug crackdown tactics of his predecessor. The seizure, which occurred in Batangas province, involved nearly 1,630 kilograms of methamphetamine, locally known as shabu, with an estimated street value exceeding 13 billion pesos.
The operation, which led to the arrest of the van driver, was conducted smoothly without any violence. President Marcos emphasized the importance of preventing illegal drug smuggling into the country and highlighted the need for a more measured approach to the drug war, focusing on rehabilitation rather than lethal force.
During the administration of former President Rodrigo Duterte, thousands of suspected drug dealers, primarily from impoverished backgrounds, were reportedly killed in clashes with law enforcement. The international community raised concerns over these extrajudicial killings, prompting an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for possible crimes against humanity.
President Marcos, who succeeded Duterte in 2022, has pledged to continue the anti-drug campaign while adopting a different strategy that prioritizes rehabilitation efforts. Despite a decrease in reported killings of drug suspects under Marcos's leadership, human rights organizations have urged cooperation with the ICC to investigate past atrocities.
Regarding his relationship with Duterte, President Marcos described it as 'complicated,' citing public accusations made by Duterte against him. Marcos reiterated his commitment to not rejoining the ICC and indicated that he would not hand over Duterte if the court issued an arrest warrant in the future.
The current vice president, Sara Duterte, is the daughter of former President Duterte and serves alongside Marcos in the government. The administration's approach to drug policy and international accountability continues to be closely monitored by both domestic and foreign observers.
