‘Rehab as important in war vs drugs’

Apart from the fight for the nation’s safety and security against the menace of illegal drugs, attention must also be directed towards the rehabilitation and recovery of its victims.

Senator Christopher “Bong” Go emphasized this Tuesday in his manifestation during the public hearing of the Senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs on the drug rehabilitation center bills.

“Drug dependents are victims of drug criminals and syndicates. They are people who have been preyed upon by opportunists seeking to take advantage of the downward spiral that takes place once drug addiction begins,” Go explained.

Drug dependents therefore, he said, should be treated as victims in dire need of medical, psychological and spiritual help, with a chance of being successfully reintegrated into society as healthy and productive citizens.

Through these measures, we can now intensify our efforts in helping our fellow Filipinos take back their lives from the dark grip of dangerous drugs and the menace it creates.

“As we continue to intensify our campaign against corruption, criminality and illegal drugs, efforts to protect the welfare of the victims are also equally prioritized. This is in fulfillment of our President’s promise of tapang at malasakit,” he said.

In the past years, President Duterte inaugurated drug rehabilitation centers, like the one in Bukidnon and another one in Nueva Ecija. Through the initiative of Senator Cynthia Villar, a drug rehab center in Las Piñas was also established.

Today, there are 64 Department of Health accredited drug rehabilitation Centers, according to Go.

“Through these measures, we can now intensify our efforts in helping our fellow Filipinos take back their lives from the dark grip of dangerous drugs and the menace it creates.

It is in this regard that I commend my colleagues here in pushing for these measures,” he said.