Push Admin

New PNP chief Acorda wants to 'save' drug users, target distributors

Article (news)

Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News 

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="A chemist from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency inspect bags of confiscated methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as " for="" testing="" during="" the="" destruction="" of="" confiscated="" illegal="" drugs="" in="" Trece="" Cavite="" on="" April="" Maria="" ABS-CBN="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/tvpatrol/04/28/20230426-pdea-drug-destruction-mt1.jpg"/><figcaption>A chemist from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency inspect bags of confiscated methamphetamine hydrochloride, locally known as &quot;shabu,&quot; for testing during the destruction of confiscated illegal drugs in Trece Martires, Cavite on April 27, 2023. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA — The new head of the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Friday said he wanted to &quot;save&quot; drug users and go after narcotics distributors. </p><p>&quot;We want to save talaga yung mga user natin, we want to save the user [through] rehabilitation. But really, yung mga nagdi-distribute, yun talaga tatargetin natin,&quot; PNP Chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda said. </p><p>&quot;Lalo na sa ating pag-conduct ng operations against high-value individuals, at saka &#x27;yung street-level individuals, &#x27;yun ang bibilangin na accomplishment ng ating kapulisan,&quot; he told ABS-CBN&#x27;s TeleRadyo. </p><p>(We want to save the users through rehabilitation. We will target the distributors. The conduct of operations against high-value and street-level individuals, that&#x27;s what we will count as accomplishment.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/04/16/23/dilg-links-up-with-pba-to-boost-anti-drug-campaign">DILG signs partnership with PBA to boost anti-drug campaign</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/26/22/authorities-push-for-rehab-deterrence-in-revamped-drug-fight">Authorities push for rehabilitation, deterrence in grassroots approach to fight drugs</a></li></ul><p>He also urged policemen to conduct operations with honesty to regain public trust. </p><p>Some PNP officers are fighting allegations of a cover-up during the confiscation of some <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/09/22/p67-b-worth-of-alleged-illegal-drugs-seized-in-ncr-operations">P6.7 billion</a> worth of illegal drugs in Metro Manila late last year. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/04/10/23/abalos-bares-cover-up-in-arrest-of-cop-tagged-in-missing-drug-haul">Abalos bares &#x27;cover-up&#x27; in arrest of cop tagged in missing drug haul</a></li></ul><p>&quot;That (honesty) will help us get a high conviction rate... Lalabas at lalabas sa korte yan and that’s what I told to our commanders on the ground that really, when we file cases, it is something that should stand in court,&quot; he said. </p><p>(Honesty will help us get a high conviction rate. That will always come out in court.)</p><p>As of November last year, a total of 26,244 villages nationwide or around 74 percent of 35,356 drug-affected barangays have been cleared of drug users, the interior department said. </p><p>It also called on barangays to set up a system incentivizing constituents to maintain a drug-free community.</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2596930" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

The new head of the Philippine National Police on Friday said he wanted to 'save' drug users and go after narcotics distributors. 

New PNP chief Acorda wants to 'save' drug users, target distributors

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

BINI

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

New PNP chief Acorda wants to 'save' drug users, target distributors

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 28, 2023 11:39 AM PHT

Read More:

Philippine National Police

PNP

Benjamin Acorda

illegal drugs

drug war

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.