The Philippine Drug Situation 2005
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I. FACILITY-BASED ADMISSIONS

For the year 2005, the reporting centers totaled to 55 residential and 3
outpatient facilities, registering an additional 2 residential and another 2 out-patient
centers, as compared to those of 2004.

A total of 5,873 cases were recorded, broken down as 5,023 cases (86%)
from the residential facilities and 850 cases (14%) from the outpatient centers. Out of
the total residential cases, 4,224 (84%) were newly admitted while the remaining 799
(16%) were re-admitted cases. As compared to the figures of the 2004, it was noted
that there was an increase of 3.55% in the new admissions while there was a
(9.92%) decline in relapse cases. A significant rise, though, was observed in the outpatient
cases from the 2004 figure of 220 to 2005’s total of 850.

The National Capital Region (NCR) had the highest percent distribution of
cases with 3,330 (or 56.70%) of the total national admissions. Regions IV-A and III
followed with 15.21% and 13.18 % admissions, respectively.

Center Admissions were predominantly male with a ratio of 10:1. Single
clients comprised 54.40%; married (30.05%); with live-in partners (9.35%); and
separated (4.50%). As to educational attainment, high school level had the highest
percent distribution with 27.58%.

Most of these clients were unemployed (38.19%) prior to admission. For
those who were previously employed before undergoing rehabilitation, 32.93% were
workers/employees while 7.59% were self-employed/businessmen. The average
monthly family income of these Center clients’ is P 13,063.13.
Most Commonly Abused Drugs Filipino drug abusers, being multiple abusers,
take drugs in combination with other similarly intoxicating substances.
For 2005, Methamphetamine Hydrochloride or Shabu, remained as the top drug of choice and was
abused by 81.36% (4,778) of clients recorded.

Marijuana was second with 1,976 cases (33.65%) while inhalants placed 3rd with 283 cases (4.82%). The other drugs abused: were benzodiazepines (3.37%), cough/cold preparations (2.54%), and Ecstasy (1.63%). These drugs were commonly taken through inhalation or sniffing and by oral administration.

II. DRUG TRAFFICKING

While it is true that Methamphetamine Hydrochloride is also manufactured in
the Philippines, it is also being smuggled into the country through four major
avenues: the seaports, the international airports, the mail and parcel services, and
the vast expanse of the Philippine coastlines.

Routes of Landing
Shabu from source countries in Asia were smuggled into the country mainly
through the shorelines of Northern Luzon, Central Luzon and Southern Luzon,
specifically the provinces of Batanes, Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, Pangasinan, Zambales,
Aurora, Quezon, Mindoro Oriental and Mindoro Occidental. Reports also indicated
that the provinces of Palawan, Masbate, Sorsogon, South Cotabato, Davao, Sulu
and Tawi-Tawi were landing sites for Shabu smuggling.
Involvement of Foreign Nationals in Illicit Drug Trafficking
The involvement of foreign nationals in drug trafficking was very apparent in
almost all the big-volume seizures by law enforcement authorities. For CY 2002,
thirty-seven (37) foreign nationals were arrested for trafficking a total of 809.1
kilograms of shabu. In 2003, seventy-two (72) foreign nationals were arrested, and a
total of 3,255.2 kilograms of shabu, 3,322 kilograms of ephedrine, large volumes of
other essential chemicals, and several items of laboratory equipment with an overall
estimated value of P8.88 billion were confiscated.
For CY 2004, 56 foreign nationals were arrested and a total of 717.56
kilograms of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride, 13 kilograms of Ephedrine, large
amounts of other essential chemicals, and several items of laboratory equipment
with an overall estimated value of P5 billion were seized. As of October 2005, 26
foreign nationals were arrested and 69.27 kilograms of shabu were confiscated.

Organized Drug Groups

Recognizing the transnational nature of the drug problem, the Philippines
focused its attention to identifying and neutralizing both transnational and local drug
groups. In a series of national and local intelligence workshops, the Philippine law
enforcement community identified five (5) transnational and 112 local drug groups
operating in the Philippines. 

Recent developments indicate emerging trends in drug trafficking in the
country. While there are no reports yet of ketamine abuse from the country’s
rehabilitation centers, intelligence reports indicated the presence of transnational
drug groups that utilize the country as a venue for the production of ketamine powder
for export to other countries. Since Ketamine was not yet considered in the
Philippines as an illegal drug, this created an opportunity for the drug syndicates to
exploit the loophole by importing Ketamine Hydrochloride from source countries,
converting it to ketamine powder in the Philippines and exporting the substance to
neighboring countries. On December 23, 2003, the Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency (PDEA) and the Bureau of Food and Drugs (BFAD) seized 7,000 vials of
Ketamine Hydrochloride and one (1) kilogram of Ketamine powder in a condominium
unit in Pasay City, Metro Manila. Investigative reports revealed that the Ketamine
products were diverted from pharmaceutical companies in India. Four (4) more
ketamine processing facilities were discovered and dismantled by the PDEA and the
Philippine National Police (PNP) resulting in the seizure of 32,300 vials of Ketamine
Hydrochloride, 53.83 kilograms of Ketamine Hydrochloride powder, and assorted
equipment and implements used in ketamine processing. This prompted the
Dangerous Drugs Board to reclassify ketamine to be Dangerous Drugs together with
other drugs on September 2005 under Board Regulation No. 3 Series of 2005.

III. CLANDESTINE MANUFACTURE OF DRUGS

The discovery of a clandestine shabu laboratory in the northern part of the
country in 1997 confirmed the shift in the drug syndicates’ strategy from merely
trafficking crystal methamphetamine hydrochloride to manufacturing the drug in the
country.

Since 1997, Philippine law enforcement authorities have dismantled 39 Shabu
clandestine laboratories, as follows: one (1) in 1997; two (2) in 1999; three (3) in
2001; four (4) in 2002; eleven (11) in 2003; eleven (11) in 2004, and seven (7) so far
in 2005.

The eleven (11) Shabu clandestine laboratories dismantled in 2003 were
concentrated in Metro Manila and in the neighboring provinces in Southern and
Central Luzon. However, of the eighteen (18) Shabu clandestine laboratories
dismantled in 2004 and 2005, two (2) were in Cebu Province in Visayas; one (1) in
Davao City and one (1) in Cagayan de Oro City which are both located in Mindanao.
All the sites in Visayas and Mindanao were noted to be located near major
international seaports and had a well-developed transportation and warehousing
infrastructure to accommodate the large volume of chemicals and equipment needed
for clandestine laboratory operations.

The eleven (11) clandestine laboratories dismantled in 2003 yielded 1,499.15 kilograms of MethamphetamineHydrochloride, precursors and essential chemicals, and laboratory equipment worth P3.87 billion. The eleven (11) clandestine laboratories dismantled in 2004 yielded 781
kilograms of Shabu, precursors and essential chemicals worth P8.05 billion. In 2005, 11 kilograms of shabu, assorted precursors and essential chemicals, and various equipment were seized from seven
(7) clandestine laboratories worth P801.53 million.

Way back in 2004 ten (10) sizeable drug storage facilities were discovered. A
total of 2,057.21 kilograms of Methamphetamine Hydrochloride were
recovered. In 2005, four (4) clandestine storage were discovered.
 
IV. MARIJUANA CULTIVATION

Marijuana naturally grows in the country. From nine (9) marijuana cultivation
sites identified in 1972, there are now 58 reported sites in different regions in the
country.

Government efforts to eradicate marijuana plantations resulted in the
uprooting and burning of 5.11 million plants and seedlings in 2002. In 2003, 5.29
million plants and seedlings were uprooted, while 2.38 million marijuana plants and
seedlings were destroyed last year. As of October 2005, 8.6 million marijuana plants
and seedlings were uprooted and destroyed.