Philippine Lawmaker Labels Duterte’s Drug War a ‘Catastrophic Failure’

In a stark critique, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Representative Robert Ace Barbers has denounced former President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war as a ‘catastrophic failure.’ Barbers, who once supported the campaign, now points to its devastating impact on the Philippine National Police (PNP), accusing it of fostering corruption, promoting a culture of impunity, and leading to widespread human rights violations. The lawmaker’s comments come in the wake of a significant drug bust in Parañaque City, where 20 kg of shabu valued at PHP136 million was seized, and three individuals, including a minor, were arrested. Barbers, who chairs the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs and leads the quad committee, highlighted the recent indictment of 30 police officers, including two generals, for a staged drug operation in 2022 as clear evidence of systemic abuse under Duterte’s policies. He criticized the administration’s reward system, which he claims turned law enforcement into a criminal enterprise focused on kill statistics and inflated achievements rather than genuine reform and public safety. Barbers supports Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla’s initiative to investigate past PNP drug operations, viewing it as a necessary step towards accountability. He also called for sweeping reforms to dismantle the culture of impunity within the PNP, enhance transparency in police operations, and impose stricter penalties for extrajudicial killings. Barbers emphasized the importance of the ongoing investigation into the indicted officers as a pivotal moment for the nation to demonstrate that no one is above the law and to restore public trust.