After the launching of the Finale Version of the PNP Campaign Plan Double Barrel, now known as the Anti-illegal Drugs Operation through Reinforcement & Education (ADORE), on March 14, 2022, the Philippine National Police has continuously conducted operations to combat the drug menace in the country.
Several accomplishments have been published since the first day of its implementation.
One of the one-time big-time operations of the organization is the confiscation of more or less 12 kgs of shabu amounting to Php81.6 million, which led to the arrest of three High-Value Individuals in Valenzuela City; and the latest, the seizure of Php1.768 Billion worth of shabu in two separate joint operations on July 3, 2022 which led to the arrest of two Chinese Nationals at Quezon City and Dasmariñas, Cavite.
From March 16, 2022 to June 10, 2022, a total of Php2,133,256,838.70 illegal drugs were confiscated in PNP joint operations. A total of 11,874 operations were conducted; 15,219 persons were arrested; 295,926.35 grams of shabu, 292,523.88 grams of Marijuana dried leaves, 428,189 pieces of Marijuana plants, and 144.65 grams of Kush Marijuana were seized.
These progressive accomplishments indicate that the intelligence and law enforcement operations conducted by PNP are effective due to the supply and demand reduction strategy, and the implementation of the whole-of-nation approach in addressing this fight.
The ADORE program underscores the “reinforcement” and “education” of the old guidelines and procedures of Double Barrel.
The Double Barrel, which was first conceptualized on July 1, 2016 is the birth of Project Tokhang and Project HVT. These policies became Project Double Barrel Alpha on January 8, 2017, which extended and expanded the visitation in barangays through the so called “Taphang,” a group dialogue or “pulong-pulong.”
Two months later, another version was made on March 16, 2017, entitled Project Double Barrel Reloaded involving the assistance of religious leaders.
In August 2019, it became Double Barrel Revised 2019, focusing on the three concepts of implementation: Prevention, Rehabilitation and Reintegration; and Law Enforcement Operations, wherein its five Phases refer to Organizing, Education, Empowerment and Mobilization, Creation of Community Defense System, and certification of mobilized Barangay.
However, another revision took place on July 7, 2019, which intensified the conduct of a vigorous, intelligence-driven, and deliberate campaign against illegal drugs anchored in the government’s whole-of-nation approach implicating other law enforcement agencies in these efforts.
Since then, to provide adequate and sustainable support for recovering drug dependents, the Directorate for Police Community Relations through the Police Community Affairs and Development Group, and in partnership with other government agencies buckled down to present to the surrenderees a Community-based Drug Wellness and Recovery Program for their benefit.
The Speakers Bureau is activated as part of the education or information drive under this Double Barrel Revised 2021.
Also, a communications strategy was formulated in the form of an Information Operation Plan linking the PCAD Master Plan or Tagataguyod in its Information Development Operations as means of influencing and informing the public about the adverse effects of illegal drugs.
In ADORE, the relevance of Police Community Relations in the Demand Reduction Operations was emphasized in targeting the users, street-level pushers, and small-time retailers under the education, environment, and economics in the eight-track system of an infinity loop of the double barrel paradigm shift or the ADORE.
The education-based operation creates awareness and consciousness among Street Level Individuals (SLIs), resulting in a low arrest rate in the country.
Members of the Kabataan Kontra Droga at Terorismo or KKDAT, and relevant Advocacy Support Groups also had significant roles in attaining a drug-free country as they serve as partners and stakeholders in claiming peace and order in their respective vicinity.
In the latest report, as of February 28, 2022, out of 42,045 barangays, 24,379 or 57.98% were declared drug-cleared in the country.
In addition, PNP Officer-in-charge, Police Lieutenant General Vicente D. Danao, Jr. in an interview, revealed that around 1.2 million were voluntarily surrendered in the first quarter of this year, which can be said, is the outcome of the demand reduction strategy of PNP.
To accelerate efforts in this case, PNP will be focusing on the reintegration of the DARE program (Drug Awareness, Rehabilitation, and Education) and Project READY (Resistance Education Against Drugs for the Youth).
PLtGen Danao Jr. believes that if there are lesser users, the drug will naturally go down. “We will save the users and the would-be victims. Thus, PNP needs the help of every citizen of the Republic. That will also be a parent’s responsibility, starting at home by taking care of our children and looking for their welfare,” General Danao added.
