Manila, July 28 -- A total of PHP83 billion worth of illegal drugs have been seized and 153,000 suspects arrested since President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. assumed office in 2022.

During his fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, Marcos said of the arrested suspects, 9,600 were listed high-value targets (HVT) with large shipments being intercepted in the provinces of Zambales, Pangasinan, Cagayan, Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, Cebu, Batangas, Rizal, and Cavite; as well as in Tondo, Manila and Muntinlupa City.

"Ang pinakamasaklap, mahigit anim na raan at pitumpu't pito sa kanila ay kawani ng pamahalaan: mahigit isandaan ay halal na opisyal; ang mahigit limampu ay pulis (Worst of all, around...