‘LGUS PLAY BIG ROLE IN WAR VS. DRUGS’

PDEA 7 hopes LGUs continue village-based drug rehab programs

The regional director of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) yesterday said the war against illegal drugs will continue with the assistance of Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III.

PDEA 7 Director Emerson Margate visited Davide yesterday morning to discuss how to improve anti-illegal drug operations, including those in the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).

“I hope that the local government units (LGUs) will continue the community-based rehabilitation program and barangay drug clearing program,” Margate said.

Although the Philippine National Police (PNP) has been taken out of the war against illegal drugs, Margate told Davide to encourage LGUs and the PNP to continue monitoring and intelligence gathering against users, pushers and drug lords.

Margate confirmed that the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Education (DepEd) are part of the anti-illegal drug cam- paign under Republic Act 9165.

The DOH is mandated to provide the drug rehabilitation facilities, while DepEd is task with drug awareness.

Earlier, Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 told the Rotary Club of Cebu South that there are about 134,000 illegal drug surrenderers in Region 7 who need rehabilitation.

Margate said that the DOH is conducting massive training for rehabilitation up to the municipal level. There is a core level who will identify the surrenderers whether severe, moderate, or mild. /