Drug users, pushers join parade to show unity in narco-war
MANGATAREM—Unlike in other towns where arrested drug pushers were made to exhibited in ‘parade of shame’, this town did it differently.
Almost 600 self-confessed drug users and pushers in this town who surrendered last week joined barangay officials and the police in the town’s “Parada ng Pagkaka-isa sa Pagsugpo sa Droga” on July 26.
P/ Chief Insp. June Galingan, town police chief, said the parade was followed by a Holy Mass officiated by Rev. Fr. Napoleon Molano, the town parish priest and the recitation of pledges by the surrenderees.
“What we did was not a shame campaign, instead we wanted to show the public that we are united in the fight against illegal drugs,” Galingan said. They carried placards with positive messages on the campaign versus illegal drugs.
He added, “We do not want to make them (surrenderees) feel as outcasts. They are not our enemies anymore but are partners of the police in fighting illegal drugs, who have pledged to completely turn their backs on their illegal activities.”
Mayor Ramil Ventenilla admitted in an interview with Bombo Radyo Dagupan, he was surprised by the number of persons involved in illegal drugs in the town.
Ventenilla said the municipal government will conduct livelihood training and assist in the rehabilitation of the surrendered persons.
Meanwhile, Galingan said, none of those who surrendered are part of their watch list.
“We are giving them until August 30 to surrender before we proceed with our operations”, said Galingan.
A total of 572 drug surrenderees from 79 out of 82 barangays comprised the first batch and joined the activity, Galingan said. They surrendered from July 11-22.
The second batch of surrenderees will join similar activity in two weeks but will do a week-long community service for surrendering late, Galingan added.
He said the drug surrenderees, 25% of whom are pushers while 75% are users, will undergo random drug testing after a month, with the help of municipal and barangay officials. (Tita Roces/Hilda Austria)
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