President Marcos Orders PNP, Coast Guard to Intensify Port Security and Ensure Immediate Destruction of Seized Drugs

Manila, The Gulf Observer: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to bolster security at all major drug entry points and ensure the immediate destruction of confiscated narcotics to prevent their reentry into the streets.

In his latest podcast aired Wednesday, the President emphasized the urgency of preventing seized drugs from returning to circulation. “I told the Coast Guard and the PNP to keep watch because I don’t want those drugs returning to the market. Destroy them immediately, as quickly as possible,” he said.

The directive is part of a recalibrated national anti-drug strategy that focuses on intercepting narcotics at the source—particularly at ports, coastlines, and maritime routes known for large-scale smuggling operations.

President Marcos stressed the importance of transparency and accountability in the destruction of seized drugs, directing law enforcement officers to be physically present during the process.

“Make sure you are there so when they say it’s several tons, it’s really all there. Nothing’s missing. Count it thoroughly, then douse it with gasoline and burn it,” the President instructed.

His remarks followed recent massive drug hauls in the provinces of Zambales, Bataan, Ilocos Sur, and Pangasinan on June 10, where authorities discovered 66 sacks containing 1,297.9 kilograms of shabu, valued at PHP8.8 billion, along coastal areas.

President Marcos also highlighted the need to curb not only large-scale syndicates but also street-level drug activity. He cited the “Cops on the Beat” initiative—launched under PNP Chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III—as a critical ground-level intervention to enhance police visibility and deter local drug trade.

While acknowledging the rise in drug seizures in recent years, the President emphasized that statistics alone are not enough. “It’s not sufficient that you are safe, you must feel safe,” he said, underlining the administration’s commitment to making communities genuinely secure and free from the threat of illegal drugs.