Drug Surrenderers and Crime Statistics During the Implementation of Project Double Barrel (PDB) in the Philippines

Abstract

Project double barrel (PDB) Crime statistics Drug surrenderers Index crime Non-index crime Illegal drugs Philippine national police (PNP) sorsogon.It is a fact that criminality related to illegal drugs is, indeed, a social problem which affects the growth of the nation and every aspect of community life. This study analyzed the profile of drug surrenderers and the crime statistics in the Province of Sorsogon during the implementation of Project Double Barrel in the Philippines. It was found out that most of the drug surrenderers are from the marginalized sectors belonging to informal workers, construction workers and jobless. There was a notable decrease in the crime volume incidents during the implementation of Project Double Barrel in the province. Due to constraints in the number of police personnel, however, there is no significant difference in the crime solution efficiency (CSE) as compared to the previous year. Physical injury and theft were the highest among the recorded index crime while most of the non-index crime incidents recorded was related to vehicular traffic incidents and other violation of street laws. Contribution/ Originality: This is one of the very few studies which have investigated the impact to crime statistics of the intensified implementation of the Anti-illegal Drug Campaign also known as Project Double Barrel (PDB) in the Philippines during the term of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte. INTRODUCTIONA substantial number of laws and literature on reducing crime volume are available in every nation of the world, but it has never ceased since the biblical crime at the Garden of Eden (Genesis 4:8). Crime situation has been recognized as an indicator of a peaceful, orderly, and safe community. Moreover, a safe and secured environment is a key factor in fostering investment and economic growth in a country.Scholars worldwide recognize that the commission of the crime and the use of illicit substances are both deviant, problematic behaviors that cause vast amounts of human suffering and societal problems. This argument can be strengthened by the investigation made by Nordstrom and Dackis (2011) who found out that active use of illegal drugs tends to increase the frequency of criminal activity. The use of prohibited drug is, indeed, a social problem which affects every aspect of community life. Villar (2015) underscores that peace and order and illegal drug activities are two non-economic problems that affect every country's economy. Without peace and order, operations of business and industries are disrupted. White and Gorman (2000) stress some social, psychological and cultural factors that may be used to identify people who are at risk of becoming offenders and/or drug users. In the report of United Nations International Drug

Pilot of an early intervention programme for low-risk persons who use drugs in the Philippines

“…Researchers may also instead opt to obtain informed consent and acquire research data verbally by default (e.g. interviews) as the likelihood of having illiterate participants in a study such as this is high (Dio et al, 2019; Pelegrino, 2022). Another limitation of the study was that it only measured psycho-social outcomes.…”

“…In terms of education, most persons who use drugs have finished high school education or less. Studies in the Philippines have also reported that drug use is motivated by the need to stay awake or have more energy to work to support their families (Dio et al, 2019; Pelegrino, 2022). Other drivers of drug use include peer influence, unemployment and problems related to family and personal relationships (Estacio, 2018).…”

Crime Rates in the Philippines: A Comparative Analysis of Bulan and Irosin Municipalities from Sorsogon Province

“…Without the trickledown effect, the rising of economic growth is meaningless. Dio et al (2019) analyzed the profile of drug surrenderers and the crime statistics in the Province of Sorsogon during the implementation of Project Double Barrel in the Philippines. It was found that most of the drug surrenderers are from the marginalized sectors belonging to informal workers, construction workers and jobless.…”

“…Also, Stealing and physical injury are the most prevalent crimes usually happens in the Philippines (see, Caba-ong et al, 2015). Moreover, the Municipality of Irosin as one among the municipalities with the highest number of recorded crime incidence has 33 or 39.4% solved cases in FY 2015 which also went higher in FY 2016 with 54.8% or 19 solved cases of crime incidents (Dio et al, 2019). To conclude it, Municipality of Irosin and Bulan are ranked higher in crime incidences, than other municipalities of Prieto Diaz, Sta.…”

“…To conclude it, Municipality of Irosin and Bulan are ranked higher in crime incidences, than other municipalities of Prieto Diaz, Sta. Magdalena, Barcelona, and Bulusan which records a less number of crime (see, Dio et al, 2019). Hence, gathering the statistical data of crimes is relevant.…”