‘There’s still hope for drug surrenderees’

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – There is hope for the hundreds of drug users who have surrendered, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Isidro Lapeña said yesterday.

Lapeña said the large number of drug users and dealers who surrendered shows that there is hope for them for the country.

In President Duterte’s first week in office, 24,000 drug users and pushers surrendered. They will be given the chance to go back to mainstream society and be free of drugs.

“It is really overwhelming. We have these people who also wanted to change their lives. They see hope in the government’s program,” Lapeña said.

“While we concentrate on supply reduction, high-value target and high-impact operation, we also have to address the need to educate our people on the ill effects of drugs so that they would be more aware and at the same time, shun illegal drugs totally,” he added.

The PDEA chief said the President is keen on establishing rehabilitation centers all over the country.

Duterte has already instructed Secretary to the Cabinet Leoncio Evasco to work on the necessary funding for the construction of rehabilitation centers.

“There are those who will go through rehabilitation inside the centers while others could go on rehab on out-patient basis,” Lapeña said.

“We are also linking up with the pertinent agencies that could help us provide training if not livelihood assistance for those who need to have a source of income,” he added.