MANILA, May 10 — ASEAN pledged to adopt a zero-tolerance approach to the illicit narcotics trade as part of its efforts to build a drug-free region.
The Philippine News Agency reported that during the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meeting in Cebu on Friday (May 8), the bloc acknowledged the important role of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Drug Matters (AMMD) and its subsidiary mechanisms in advancing regional coordination to address the proliferation of illegal drugs.
In a statement yesterday, the ASEAN chair said that Southeast Asia's leaders expressed support for the biennial AMMD and looked forward to the Philippines’ chairship of the 9th meeting this year.
Among the commitments made during the summit was the continued implementation of the ASEAN Workplan on Securing Communities Against Illicit Drugs, anchored on the ASEAN Political Security Community Strategic Plan.
The priority deliverables would complement the member-states’ shared objectives for a “safe and secure ASEAN”.
ASEAN would also observe the ASEAN Drug Victims Remembrance Day on June 26, in conjunction with the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, highlighting the region’s concerted efforts to strengthen community resilience and raise public awareness of the grave repercussions of illicit drug use.
The leaders lauded the continued contributions of the ASEAN Narcotics Cooperation Centre, particularly its publication of the annual ASEAN Drug Monitoring Report (ADM), which is a key initiative supporting regional efforts to combat illegal drugs.
They also noted the outcomes of the 19th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting (ADMM) and the 12th ADMM-Plus convened in 2025.
“We acknowledged notable progress in regional defence cooperation made in the past two decades, including the founding of the ADMM-Plus in 2010, which reflects ASEAN’s commitment to an open and inclusive regional security architecture,” the Philippines said.
The organisation welcomed the expanded defence cooperation among the member-states, allowing the ADMM and ADMM-Plus to address current security challenges in the region and prepare against future threats.
They also commended the growing engagement with external partners, both under the ADMM/ADMM-Plus framework and beyond, including through the continued implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.
“We noted initiatives under the Philippines’ Chairship aimed at investing in the future, by advancing the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda. We looked forward to the flagship activities of the seven ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working Groups in the ongoing 2024-2027 cycle,” the ASEAN chair said.
