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Social media was abuzz on Monday night, October 19, after President Rodrigo Duterte claimed in a public address that there are “167 million” drug users in the Philippines.
Citing what he said were government figures, Duterte said in a recorded address, “I’d like to report to you that according to the…DDB, Dangerous Drugs Board, there are about 167 million or two out of 100 people, Filipinos aged 10 to 69, are current users of drugs.”
Many social media users were quick to point out the figures cited by the President – as he delivered remarks about his bloody anti-illegal drug campaign – did not add up since they were larger than the entire Philippine population estimated to be at about 108 million as of July 2020.
On Tuesday, October 20, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque clarified that Duterte’s statement had been the result of a typographical error.
“Typo lang po ‘yun (It was just a typo). It should be 1.67 million,” Roque said during a virtual address.
The Palace official added the basis of the DDB’s figures was a 2019 national household survey on the patterns of drug abuse.
While Duterte’s controversial drug war has been a centerpiece program of his administration, many human rights groups and watchdogs have pointed out the inaccurate data often cited to support intensified ground operations.
Since 2016, Duterte often mentioned that the “drug addicts” in the Philippines have reached 3 to 4 million already based on “estimates” from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
At the time, however, the 2015 Nationwide Survey on the Nature and Extent of Drug Abuse in the Philippines showed that there were 1.8 million current drug users aged 18 to 69, while 4.8 million Filipinos have used illegal drugs at least once in their lives. The survey, which is done every 3 years, did not identify these individuals as “drug addicts.”
On Monday, as Duterte read out the “167 million” figure, he once again claimed that under the tenure of then-Philippine National Police chief Ronald dela Rosa, “umabot ‘yan ng almost 4 million” it almost reached 4 million.”
Duterte then said his administration was still “thick in the fight” against illegal drugs.
Statisticians and experts have repeatedly emphasized the importance of ensuring data is accurate, as these may affect the crafting and outcome of government policies and strategies. – Rappler.com
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