THERE IS LIFE AFTER DRUGS

MALASIQUI—Former drug personalities now known as reformists here have returned to living normal lives with decent jobs and cleared of illegal drugs use.

In an interview with P/Supt. Roland Lee Sacyat, chief of Malasiqui Police Station (MPS), said there are over 200 self-confessed drug personalities in the town who surrendered at the onset of the all- out war against illegal drugs all over the country.

However in the absence of a rehabilitation center in the town, the MPS organized Project BaTu or Bangon Kabayan sa Tulong ng Bayan in collaboration with the local government unit (LGU), barangay officials and the Malasiqui Association of Pastors in Action (MAPA) to help reform the drug personalities who surrendered before and after ‘tokhang’.

Project BaTu starts the process with the acceptance of surrender or Operation Tokhang with barangay officials. Those who confess are interviewed and the documentation by police immediately follows. They take their oath and promise in the presence of the mayor or fiscal to manifest their commitment to stop and desist from illegal drug trade and help in the campaign against it.

The rehabilitation process begins with a series of counseling by MAPA pastor members and close monitoring via personal appearance before a designated barangay official, and at the MPS. The reformist must agree to submit to surprise drug test, and attend lectures and other activities, including clean-up drives and Zumba dance exercise sessions.

If the reformist has complied with the requirements and policies, he/she will be enlisted for the livelihood program conducted by the LGU in collaboration with the Technical Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

One of the reformists is a 35 year- old who physically abused his only daughter while on drugs but now works as janitor in MPS and after a three- month probationary period, he will be endorsed for a contractual work in the LGU.

Meanwhile, Reynaldo Bulatao, also a reformist here appreciated the total change in his life as he embraced God in his life and now a religious attendee to a church in the town.

Antonio Palaganas III who was once into illegal drugs is now a traffic enforcer in the town while the some of the reformists also works in private companies.

Sacyat said reformists are allowed to work out of town provided they have the documents to prove that are employed.

MPS also encourages the town residents to support Project BaTu by providing livelihood opportunities and accept reformists again as productive law-abiding citizens without the stigma of their past involvement in illegal drugs. (Hilda Austria)

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