Department of Foreign Affairs(DFA)

Good day to the DFA team! This is Neil Bie from The Filipino Times here in the UAE. We would like to know the following info for an article we're writing about OFWs and drug cases worldwide from 2010-2022.

•How much public funds spent to assist OFWs involved in drug cases.
•The number of Filipinos jailed for drug-related offenses
•Ratio of PH drug users to PH drug peddlers/smugglers overseas
•Year-on-year increase or decrease of drug cases among OFWs
•The common route and tactics involved (Were they mules? Were they transporting it at airport or seaport?)
• Demographics(age, sex etc)

Thanks!

May 30, 2022

Dear Neil,

Thank you for your request dated May 29, 2022 under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch, for Gov't spending on Drug cases among Overseas Filipinos 2010-2022.

We received your request on May 29, 2022 and will respond on or before Jun 17, 2022 12:31:23 PM, in accordance with the Executive Order's implementing rules and regulations.

Should you have any questions regarding your request, kindly contact me using the reply function on the eFOI portal at http://efoi-ph.appspot.com/requests/aglzfmVmb2ktcGhyHQsSB0NvbnRlbnQiEERGQS0xOTE2NDUxNDY5MzYM, for request with ticket number #DFA-191645146936.

Thank you.

Respectfully,

FOI Receiving Officer
FOI Officer

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the information you are requesting falls under the inventory of exceptions to the right to access information and is confidential in nature. 

Section 2(b) of the Memorandum from the Executive Secretary on Executive Order No. 02 s. 2016 states that the following is exempted from FOI: 

“Privileged information relating to national security, defense or international relations are required to be kept secret in the conduct of foreign affairs.”

Furthermore, Section 3.a.iv of the Memorandum states that “Information concerning law enforcement and protection of public and personal safety such as Investigation records for law enforcement purposes which if written would be contained in such records, but only to the extent that the production of such records would unjustifiably disclose investigative techniques and procedures".

Thank you.