The PDEA Vows to Continue the War on Drugs Despite Bongo Not Mentioning it in His SONA

One of the biggest questions people was whether or not the war on drugs would continue once Duterte left office. I always thought this was a stupid question because possession of certain drugs is illegal in the Philippines and it would not be reasonable to think the agencies tased with fighting drugs (the NBI, PNP, and PDEA) would suddenly stop enforcing those laws because no one told them to do so. This week President Bongo gave his first SONA and made no mention about the war on drugs. So does that mean the war on drugs is over? Of course not!

https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1936034/cebu/local-news/pdea-central-visayas-vows-to-continue-war-on-drugs

THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Central Visayas vowed that nothing will change in the government’s war against illegal drugs despite it not being mentioned in the State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

Marcos delivered his first Sona on Monday, July 25, 2022, wherein he talked about tax reform, tourism, infrastructure projects, education and energy, among other things. He, however, did not mention the fight against criminality and drugs, as well as corruption.

PDEA-Central Visayas Director Levi Ortiz said Tuesday, July 26, that the war on drugs will continue to be implemented nationwide.

He said they will, in fact, strengthen the campaign against illegal drugs in Central Visayas.

(We are under the Office of the President, so we will follow whatever is the will and pleasure of the president.)

(He might have a plan about the fight against illegal drugs and he has yet to discuss it, but we in PDEA, we will continue the fight.)

Does anyone think it is the pleasure of the president to stop enforcing the drug laws? 

Maybe it's something else.  Maybe it's this:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jul/01/philippines-president-rodrigo-duterte-urges-people-to-kill-drug-addicts

“These sons of whores are destroying our children. I warn you, don’t go into that, even if you’re a policeman, because I will really kill you,” the head of state told the audience.

“If you know of any addicts, go ahead and kill them yourself as getting their parents to do it would be too painful.”

Duterte ordered not just cops but everyone to kill drug users. Bongo has not given such an order yet. But should that really put the drug war in limbo? The war on drugs has been going on since Marcos Sr. enacted the Dangerous Drugs Act of 1972. Why would anyone think that it is going to end now?