‘SURRENDER TO GOD’ HELPS DRUG DEPENDENTS IN JAIL

For a year, the Surrender to God community has been operating a recovery and renewal program for inmates at the Cebu City Jail (CCJ).

The program called SuGod-Kusa aims to help inmates facing illegal drug cases.

Fe Barino, executive director of SuGod-Kusa and the administrator of the recovery and renewal program, said this is the Archdiocese of Cebu’s response to Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Royina Garma, who asked Cebu Archdiocese Jose Palma for help for the drug inmates.

Barino saw the importance of helping the inmates change themselves and avoid relapse.

“Kon ang naa sa gawas nangkinahanglan og tabang, labaw pa tong naa sa sulod nagkinahanglan og tabang (If those outside need help, how much more those inside the jail). We saw the need to help them because they’re hungry, thirsty for learning. Hungry sila nga makagawas sa ilang kahimtang ba nga drug addict ba, unsaon nga dili sila makasuyop og balik (They hunger for a life outside being a drug addict, on how to avoid drug use),” said Barino, chairperson of the Commission on Laity of the Archdiocese, in a talk with Superbalita Cebu.

In a letter to Barino dated Oct. 16, CCJ Warden Renante Rubio asked if the program can help the inmates who are still waiting for their rehabilitation schedule under its Decongestion Program.

Rubio believed many inmates want spiritual guidance.

“Spiritual hunger is never satisfied by earthly food,” said Rubio.

In the first batch, not less than 51 inmates in the CCJ’s male dormitory underwent the program. They were made aware of what drug addiction was, its effects, how to end it and avoid going into relapse.

Under the program, the inmates were given copies of the Bible as a tool for their recovery. They were made to join the Life in the Spirit Seminar and confess.

The four-day seminar under the SuGod-Kusa in the CCJ was held last Oct. 17 to 21 at the Inmates Welfare and Development Area.

Barino plans to hold the program every month for a year.

After the seminar, they will do weekly follow-up sessions inside the CCJ and once an inmate is out, there will be a community-based rehabilitation group that will accept the former inmate.

“Lipay kaayo sila, very grateful kaayo sila. Maglisod man sila unsaon pagbiya sa bisyo kon dili sila tabangan, kon way proper intervention. Maglisod sila og bag-o on their own (They’re very happy, very grateful. They’ll have a hard time leaving their vice if no one helps them, without proper intervention. They’ll have a hard time changing for good if no one helps them),” added Barino.

She said it is difficult to sustain the program beyond a year since it is costly, unless they get assistance from the government.

He wants government to recognize the efforts and initiatives of the private sector in helping facilitate the rehabilitation of drug dependents.

Group helps jail facility rehabilitate drug dependent inmates

Program is response to Cebu City Police Office Director Garma’s call for help from the Archdiocese of Cebu