Abstract
The drug situation in the province of Abra has been the subject of vacillating narratives.
From being reported as having the worst case in its region in July 2016, to being, albeit
unofficially, declared as drug-free just six-months into the Duterte administration by the
police, then backsliding with reports of ‘narco-politicians’ and several cases of drug related
killings in the months after. The study aims to explore in depth this phenomenon of shifting
narratives along with constructing the illegal drug situation in Abra by identifying who the
victims are, and by examining its relationship with Abra’s politics. Through gathering and
analyzing secondary data, conducting key informant interviews with major stakeholders, and
focus group discussions with Abra Multi-Stakeholders Group, the study hopes to arrive at its
answers.