Center for Investigative Journalism, 2017). Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) noted that given the situation, the government has no “specific program for women and children… they are often referred to government social workers or even mixed with adults in already severely congested rehabilitation facilities and detention (Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, 2017). Table 4: Numbers of the Drug War, July 2016 – May 2017 Rehabilitation 10, 424 DSWD Counseling Total Drug Offenders in Jail (a) (b) 153 women children 64, 647 39, 518 26, 415 Source: PNP Directorate for Operations Monitoring Board (as cited in Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, 2017). 2. The Effects of the Drug War and Extra-Judicial Killings on Women and Children The Drug War All over the world, countries that implemented the war against drugs have resulted in a high rate of incarceration of women. The number of women imprisoned for drugs in the United States has increased from 12,300 in 1980 to 182, 271 in 2002 (American Civil Liberties Union; Break the Chains; Communities of Color and the War on Drugs; The Brennan Center). The same study also showed that from 1986 to 1999, women imprisoned for drug use have skyrocketed to 888% compared to the men. In Brazil, the number of people imprisoned have increased from 60,000 to 134,000 (123% increases) from 2007 to 2012, while it is observed that “there has been a consistent and extensive increase in drugrelated incarceration among women. 80% of imprisoned women were due to drug trafficking charges (Miraglia, 2015). Just like in Ecuador, these women become “mules,” often times, at the request of their partners (CEDAW, 2012; Fleetwood & Torres, 2011). Many Ecuadorian women maintained their romantic relationship and “do their time” in prison together. Met with difficult decisions, various forms of parenting have been devised by women to fulfill their role as mothers. Well-being of children is also at-risk when a mother was imprisoned because her children most likely will not live with the father. 79% of these children live with their grandparents while 10% are in foster homes. (American Civil Liberties Union; Break the Chains; Communities of Color and the War on Drugs; The Brennan Center). In Ecuador, children were brought voluntarily into prison by their mothers(Fleetwood & Torres, 2011). The lack of state funds to improve prison conditions has greatly affected the conditions of children. The imprisoned women have to share their food ration with their children because the latter were not considered part of the prison population. They also stay in overcrowded pavilions, where conflicts and violence were inevitable. Despite the effort of these mothers, they are still being stigmatized, often times, they are called selfish and irresponsible. In the US, women who were separated from their Panaghoy: The Philippine War on Drugs from the Perspective of Women March 2019 7