President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. inspects the PNP assets with DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos, PNP Chief Rommel Marbil, PMGen Mario Reyes PNP Director for Logistics during celebration of the 123rd Police Service Anniversary at the PNP Multi Purpose Hall in Camp Crame on August 08, 2024. Yummie Dingding, PPA poolMANILA -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) is taking a "recalibrated" approach to combat illegal drugs that will focus on the sources and supply chain instead on street-level pushers and users.

According to PNP chief, Police General Rommel Marbil, this new approach is designed to be more effective and less bloody campaign by putting premium on human rights and addressing the drug problem at its very core.

He compared it to the mythical "Hydra," where cutting off one head causes more to grow in its place. 

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“Our previous strategies concentrated too much on cutting off the heads, but we need to target the body— the entire supply chain and the sources driving the drug trade,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

He said the recalibrated strategy will involve intensified intelligence operations and stronger community engagement.

“We are now focusing on high-value drug personalities and the movements of illegal drugs across the country. These are the real targets—those who orchestrate the trade and profit from it, not the street-level pushers and users, who are often victims of circumstance,” said the PNP chief.

“We aim to address the drug problem without resorting to bloodshed. By focusing on the real culprits and protecting the victims, we can make our communities safer while respecting human rights.”

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The strategy shifted from the anti-drug campaign of former President Rodrigo Duterte. 

The campaign considerably reduced drug proliferation in the country, but has been marred by extrajudicial killings allegedly perpetrated by the police and unknown assailants.

More than 6,000 were killed in the brutal campaign against illegal drugs, police said. But this could go as high as 60,000, according to estimates of human rights groups.

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Marbil said the new strategy shift aligns with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s vision for a safer and more secure Philippines.

“With this approach, we are not only saving lives but also working toward a better future for our nation. We are committed to addressing the drug issue with compassion, strategy, and adherence to the rule of law,” he said.

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