Decriminalization of Illicit Drugs in the Philippines
Daniel Sam K. Bañas, 120483
Carlos Rivera
English 12
7 February, 2012
The Decriminalization of Illicit Drugs in the Philippines
From the year 2002 to the year 2012, reports of illegal drug use and addiction to illegal drugs have risen in the Philippines, as explained by Tom Bañas the Task Force Commander of the Anti-Illegal Drug and Special Operation Task Force or AIDSOFT. The Philippine government in response to these reports sanctioned the formation of agencies specializing in dealing with cases concerning illegal drugs. Though these agencies are funded by the government to fight in the war against illegal drugs, the power amassed by the syndicates has restricted the efficiency of these agencies as illegal drug abuse and trade still remains prominent in the Philippines (Bañas).
The consistency of drug use and trade has resulted in the rise of drug dependents, and this problem is not an isolated one, as other countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Burma, and United States according to Bañas and nations such as Spain and Italy according to Hughes, Elizabeth and Stevens are also experiencing this increase. As observed from other nations, the rising influence of drug use and abuse on societies has stemmed the creation of different drug policies, from Portugal’s decriminalization approach to Thailand’s zero-tolerance for drugs.
Though with careful implementation and education, albeit through different approaches, these policies have been found efficient at dealing with each nation’s respective drug problems. But in the case of the Philippines for a more efficient war on drugs and to help the victims of drug dependency at the root, a decriminalization-oriented drug policy should applied, one that combines an aspect of Thailand’s stern drug policy with the free-choice of decriminalization applied by Portugal.
In 2002, in response to the rise of drug use and trafficking, former President Arroyo signed into law the Republic Act No. 9165 otherwise known as
Carlos Rivera
English 12
7 February, 2012
The Decriminalization of Illicit Drugs in the Philippines
From the year 2002 to the year 2012, reports of illegal drug use and addiction to illegal drugs have risen in the Philippines, as explained by Tom Bañas the Task Force Commander of the Anti-Illegal Drug and Special Operation Task Force or AIDSOFT. The Philippine government in response to these reports sanctioned the formation of agencies specializing in dealing with cases concerning illegal drugs. Though these agencies are funded by the government to fight in the war against illegal drugs, the power amassed by the syndicates has restricted the efficiency of these agencies as illegal drug abuse and trade still remains prominent in the Philippines (Bañas).
The consistency of drug use and trade has resulted in the rise of drug dependents, and this problem is not an isolated one, as other countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Burma, and United States according to Bañas and nations such as Spain and Italy according to Hughes, Elizabeth and Stevens are also experiencing this increase. As observed from other nations, the rising influence of drug use and abuse on societies has stemmed the creation of different drug policies, from Portugal’s decriminalization approach to Thailand’s zero-tolerance for drugs.
Though with careful implementation and education, albeit through different approaches, these policies have been found efficient at dealing with each nation’s respective drug problems. But in the case of the Philippines for a more efficient war on drugs and to help the victims of drug dependency at the root, a decriminalization-oriented drug policy should applied, one that combines an aspect of Thailand’s stern drug policy with the free-choice of decriminalization applied by Portugal.
In 2002, in response to the rise of drug use and trafficking, former President Arroyo signed into law the Republic Act No. 9165 otherwise known as
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