Pubdate: Mon, 13 Jun 2005
Source: Philippine Star (Philippines)
Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2005
Contact:  http://www.philstar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622
Author: Non Alquitran
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

MANDALUYONG POLICE TO TRY COUNSELING TO LICK THE DRUG PROBLEM

Mandaluyong City will try counseling as a new strategy in licking the
city's worsening problem on illegal drugs.

This idea was conceived yesterday during an anti-drug rally at the San
Roque Parish in Barangay San Roque attended by ranking officials of
the local police, schools, neighborhood and driver's association and
civic organizations.

"We believe that arresting drug pushers and users does not solve the
illegal drugs problem, so we are embarking on this new idea in
cooperation with the office of Mayor Neptali Gonzales," said
Superintendent Ericson Velasquez, Mandaluyong City police chief.

Under the new scheme, Velasquez said barangay leaders, drivers' and
neighborhood associations will consolidate the list of drug pushers
and users in their areas and submit them for thorough verification to
the Mandaluyong Anti-Drug Action Center (MADAC).

The drug pushers will be confronted and politely told to leave the
city, said Velasquez. Those who refuse to heed their warning will be
arrested and jailed.

The drug users, Velasquez said, will be made to undergo counseling or
drug rehabilitation.

Gonzales put up an initial fund of P100,000 during the project's
launching. The project is supported by Mandaluyong City Rep. Benhur
Abalos, Vice Mayor Jessie Cruz and the City Council.

Chief drug buster Deputy Director General Ricardo de Leon also threw
his full support to the counseling project. "Magandang sample ang
proyekto. Hindi basta-basta huhulihin ang drug pushers at users kundi
ipapaliwanag sa kanila and kasamaan na dulot ng droga (This is a good
project. Drug pushers will not just be arrested but will also be given
lectures on the destructive effects of illegal drugs)," De Leon said.

De Leon, who also heads the police Anti-Illegal Drugs Special
Operations Task Force (AIDSOTF), also launched the "Pamilya Ko Ayaw sa
Droga " campaign in the same gathering yesterday.

Velasquez said the multi-sectoral approach to the drug problem also
calls for a massive information drive which will be spearheaded by the
local police. "We will conduct a barangay level information drive
centered on the evils of illegal drugs," said Velasquez.

"Mayor Gonzales was alarmed over reports that the drug problem was far
from finished so he decided to try the new tack, which we believe is
highly viable," said Velasquez.

Aside from the information campaign, the local police were tasked to
go after drug pushers who will snub their call to settle somewhere
else. "We will enforce the full force of the law to solve once and for
all the city's drug problem," said the local police chief.

Chief Superintendent Oscar Valenzuela, director of the Eastern Police
district (EPD), also pledged his full support to the counseling program.

"We are all out in our support to the anti-drug program in our
jurisdiction. All our reserve resources will be at the disposal of the
Mandaluyong police," Valenzuela said. 
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