Cops back church efforts to help drug surrenderers

CEBU, Philippines - Personnel of the Regional Police Community Relations Division of the Police Regional Office (PRO) -7 are extending their hands in service to help the drug surrenderers through livelihood programs and recreational activities.

Senior Superintendent Renato Dugan, chief of the Regional Personnel and Human Resources Development Division of PRO-7, said they are in constant coordination with the Cebu Archdiocesan Program for Drug Dependents (CAPDD), a coordinating body that aims to help the parishes choose or set up their own programs at their own level.

“Ang role sa police mao ang pag-clear sa pangalan sa mga surrenderers nga moabot ang panahon nga ilang pangalan mawala na sa drug watch list para maka-start sila balik sa ilang kinabuhi. Maka-apply sila og trabaho para sa pag-usab sa ilang kinabuhi. Ato sila i-validate up to the time nga ma-clear ilang pangalan,” he said.

He said the police are also providing drug surrenderers security during their recovery and reintegration programs and activities.

“Issues sa mga surrenderers nga murag mahadlok sila maong ni-propose ta nga during sa ilang activity mopadala ta og kapulisan to serve as their security, depende sa area of responsibility,” said Dugan.

Through UBAS, CAPDD aims to link the parish with the barangays and other local government units to come up with a common platform in addressing the drug problem in their community.

CAPDD is dependent on two major existing programs that serve as its component offerings to the parishes and local government units for the rehabilitation of drug dependents.

First is SuGod, or Surrender to God, a ten-day intensive seminar initiated by Kaalam Foundation, Inc., and second is Labang, a community-based drug rehab program.

 “Nindot kaayu nga programa. Maka-ingon ta sa mga drug surrenderrers nga this is not the end of the world for them,” Dugan said. (FREEMAN)