Quezon city: A total of PHP83 billion worth of illegal drugs have been seized and 153,000 suspects arrested since President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assumed office in 2022. During his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, Marcos said of the arrested suspects, 9,600 were listed high-value targets (HVT) with large shipments being intercepted in the provinces of Zambales, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Cebu, Batangas, Rizal, and Cavite; as well as in Tondo, Manila and Muntinlupa City.

According to Philippines News Agency, the President highlighted that around 677 of the arrested suspects are government employees, with more than 100 being elected officials and over 50 being police officers. The President acknowledged the speed at which these accomplishments have been achieved, stating that in just three years, they have almost matched the total arrests made by the previous administration.

President Marcos vowed that the government would remain relentless in its fight against the illegal drugs trade in the country. He noted that despite these efforts, drug peddlers seem to be making a comeback, and assured that operations against drug dealers, whether big-time or small-time, will continue.