Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. made headlines on Tuesday as police seized the largest haul of methamphetamine in the country in years, totaling nearly 1,630 kilograms (1.8 tons), without any casualties. The seizure took place at a checkpoint in Alitagtag town in Batangas province, south of Manila, where the driver of the van carrying the drugs was arrested.
Known locally as shabu, the powerful stimulant had a street value of more than 13 billion pesos ($228 million). Marcos emphasized the importance of a slow and careful approach to drug enforcement, contrasting it with the deadly crackdown on illegal drugs under his predecessor, Duterte, which resulted in the deaths of over 6,000 suspected drug dealers.
Marcos’s stance on the drug war differs from Duterte’s, as he aims to focus on preventing the smuggling of illegal drugs into the Philippines. He also addressed his complicated relationship with Duterte, who has accused Marcos of being a weak leader and using cocaine in the past.
Despite being elected with a landslide victory in 2022 alongside Duterte’s daughter, Sara, Marcos reiterated that he would not bring the Philippines back to the International Criminal Court (ICC). When asked if he would hand over Duterte if the ICC issued a warrant for his arrest in the future, Marcos firmly stated that he would not.
The successful drug seizure under Marcos’s administration marks a significant development in the country’s ongoing battle against illegal drugs, with a focus on preventing violence and ensuring accountability.