COSAP to provide training to drug surrenderers

CEBU, Philippines - In response to the intensified  campaign of the Philippine National Police against illegal drugs, Cebu City's Office for Substance Abuse and Prevention (COSAP) has initiated an immediate intervention by providing surrenderers with Technical-Vocational Education and Training Programs.

Through a resolution authored City Councilor David Tumulak, chairman of the peace and order committee of the city, surrerderers in the city under the Oplan Tokhang (Toktok Hangyo) of the PNP will be provided with training that will help them earn a living and stay away from illegal activities.

"Whereas, one of the best interventions that can be made is to provide these people with Technical-Vocational Education and Training programs which may be availed at the city's Department of Manpower Development and Placement that would prepare them for a better future," the approved resolution reads.

Training programs include: industrial trade course which involves automotive, defensive driving preventive maintenance, electronic application, TV servicing, basic electricity, refrigeration and air conditioning, plumbing and computer technician.

Vocational trade courses will also be provi-ded, including cosmetology, computer literacy, computer programming, website publishing, ms-access, computer designing, computer aided design, desktop publishing, typing, stenography, and garment trade involving dressmaking, draperies, tailoring, industrial sewing machines.

Other programs will include simple technologies and food trade or culinary arts like baking, cake decorating and hotel restaurant service.

A copy of the approved resolution has been forwarded to the DMDP head Fidel Magno, Philippine National Police and to the barangay officials for the dissemination of information.

Records of the 'We Care' program launched by COSAP shows that surrenderers requested the city to offer them a job.

The We Care program is an outpatient rehabilitation for surrenderers that would take three months.

In relation to providing intervention to surrenderers, COSAP conducted a meeting last Friday together with police officials, as well as the barangay officials, to easily monitor the surrenderers.

“Drug pusher” shot 

While sitting in front of his house, a 25-year-old man was shot dead by unidentified perpetrators Friday evening along Juan Luna St., Barangay Looc, Danao City.

Police Senior Inspector Alejandro Batobalonos, chief of the Danao City Police Station, said Ronie Ponce alias Sadam was sitting in front of his house when two men onboard motorcycle arrived and shot him.

The victim sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his head and to the different parts of his body, causing his instantaneous death.

Batobalonos said there was tag printed in a white bond paper saying "Drug pusher ako wag nyu akung tularan" placed beside Ponce's body.

Prior to the incident, he said they subjected Ponce to the Oplan Tokhang but he neglected the request.

"Ponce is a level 2 drug pusher, wherein he can dispose 100 to 200 grams per week," he said, adding Ponce was included on their list of drug ope-rators in the area.

Batobalonos said they were supposed to conduct a buy-bust operation against Ponce, but he was shot dead.

Batobalonos said they believe Ponce has a debt from his former boss.

Meanwhile, in Barangay Pasil, Cebu City, a 39-year-old man was shot by an unidentified person at 2:30 a.m. yesterday when he went out from a videoke bar.

The victim was identified as Edgardo Sevilla, a resident of said place.

Investigation revealed that when Sevilla went out of a videoke bar, a man from another table allegedly followed him and shot him, hitting him in the back.

Police Officer 3 Wins-ton Ybañez said they received information that Sevilla was involved in illegal drugs, but this is still subject for verification.

"A follow-up investigation will be conducted to identify the suspect and his possible arrest," he said.  (FREEMAN)