DO NOT condemn the junkies.
This was the message of Presidential Assistant for the Visayas Michael Lloyd Dino to the public during the opening day of the 22nd National Crime Prevention Week yesterday.
“Mind you, one important element of rehabilitation of drug users is the family. (The) absence of a family who is the source of support-moral, spiritual, financial and even filial-rehabilitation, will become a never-ending cycle for the drug user. He will never be healed. He will go for rehabilitation, again and again,” said Dino in his speech.
The official said that there is a need for a collaborative effort in the rehabilitation of drug victims.
“The civil society, the civic groups, the church, the schools, the corporate citizens, and the people, if they join hands with the government, I’m quite sure that the rehabilitation process will succeed,” said Dino.
He urged the public to support the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte in the fight against illegal drugs, especially in the rehabilitation program of users.
In Central Visayas in the last two months, 72,000 junkies and drug pushers have surrendered to the police.
In an interview with the media after the program, Dino said he will talk with the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) on the possibility of giving the surrenderees livelihood.
He said that the labor department has more than P60 million for cooperatives and this fund can be used to help the surrenderees.
The kick-off ceremony of the Crime Prevention Week celebration ended with the police and other government officials releasing balloons and blowing whistles.
Department of Interior and Local Government 7 Director Rene Burdeos, National Police Commission 7 Director Homer Mariano Cabaral and officials from the Commission on Human Rights 7 were among those who attended the event yesterday.
For Burdeos, the public may be able to support the police in the fighting against criminality by staying vigilant.
“Crime prevention is not just a concern of the Philippine National Police, but a concern for all of us,” he said.
Meanwhile, Police Regional Office 7 Director Noli Taliño said the police force is increasing its visibility in public places with the entry of the “ber” months where employees are expected to receive bonuses and criminals seek potential victims.
Intelligence operatives will also be deployed to monitor noted robbers from other places who might arrive in Cebu and other provinces in Central Visayas.
