For the first time since the Duterte administration declared a war on drugs in July, the number of suspects found guilty of violating Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 inside a month reached 11.

Based on data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), three and two suspects were found guilty of violating Section 5 (selling of illegal drugs) and Section 11 (possession of illegal drugs), respectively, in November.

Four were found guilty of violating Section 15 (illegal drug use) while two were convicted of violating Sections 11 and 12 (possession of drug paraphernalia).

In the same month, one and three were acquitted over charges of violating Sections 5 and 11.

Of the complaints filed before the City and Provincial Prosecutor’s Office in November, 143 were new cases.

Six of these are still under preliminary investigation while 28 were junked due to lack of evidence, unacceptable evidence or death of the accused.

In the regional trial courts, 193 new cases were filed. Eighty of these were for violations of Section 5, 99 for Section 11, five for Section 12 and 9 for Section 15.

According to same data, 99 are or have been in the custody of law enforcers while three remain at large while facing drug charges.

Previously, security forces in the province including the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation and Philippine Army have declared an 80% completion in the campaign against illegal drugs. (Rey Tutas)