20 ex-junkies start road to recovery

CEBU, Philippines —  About 20 former drug dependents from different areas in Central Visayas graduated from the Surrender to God Recovery and Renewal Program of the Archdiocese of Cebu and the Love of God Community in Liloan town yesterday.

The program ran for six days – started last Monday and ended yesterday with the graduation rites attended by the parents of the drug dependents.

Under the program, the participants are educated on the pitfalls of drug use. In addition, they also undergo a drug test, which is used as part of the gauge on whether they are ready to be incorporated back to the community.

All participants this week passed that test.

SuGod staff member Jay-R Reynes shared that some participants tested positive for illegal drug use during the test conducted before the start of the recovery program.

Reynes said he is hopeful that the graduates will maintain their “clean status” when they go back to their respective homes.

Among those who graduated were dependents from Negros Oriental, Cebu City, and Toledo City in Cebu.

One of the graduates, a mother who hails from Negros, told The FREEMAN she was happy to have joined the program.

Hooked to the vice for years, she was moved to tears when she saw all her children and sibling during the graduation ceremony.

She expressed optimism to continue the good things she has started in the effort to change herself.

For her part, SuGod executive director Fe Mantuhac-Barino said she is thankful for being made an instrument to help those that need intervention, especially those who cannot afford rehabilitation.

Apart from the one offered in Liloan, SuGod also has a recovery program inside the Cebu City Jail for persons deprived of liberty but who availed of a plea-bargaining agreement.

Since she started the program, Barino said it has already produced close to a thousand graduates.

2 HVTs arrested

In a separate report, two alleged high-value targets (HVTs) and their alleged cohorts were arrested during the buy-bust operation in Barangay San Isidro, Talisay City yesterday dawn.

Authorities were able to arrest the subject of the operation, Mark Manuel Deiparine, married and a resident of place. He is said to be one of the drug personalities listed in the watchlist of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas.

Also arrested was Justine Aparece, legal age, a resident of Barangay San Nicolas, C. Padilla, Cebu City.

Aparece is also reported as an HVT of the provincial police.

The companions of the two HVTs were identified as Alvin Mercado, of legal age, and Anthony Manilag, also of legal age. Both were residents of the same place.

Police Captain Nazarino Emia, deputy chief of Talisay City Police Station, led the operation after they validated information that the suspects were into the illegal business.

The suspects allegedly used the packaging of junk food products to hide illegal drugs.

The suspects yielded suspected shabu weighing 185.12 grams with estimated value of P1.2 million.

All of the suspects were placed behind bars awaiting the appropriate charges to be filed against them. — (FREEMAN)