‘REHABINASYON’ LAUNCHED IN LAPU

Barangay, police officials in sixth district, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu City attend event

The Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs and the Presidential Communications Operations Office launched the Rehabinasyon program in Cebu at the Mactan Island Convention Center in Lapu-Lapu City yesterday afternoon.

At least 1,200 officials from barangays and police offices of local government units (LGUs) in the sixth district, Lapu-Lapu City and Cebu City attended the event.

According to the PCOO, Rehabinasyon, a portmanteau of rehabilitation and nation, “aims to take a holistic approach in eliminating the country’s drug problem by putting a premium on the rehabilitation of drug surrenderers.”

City Mayor Paz Radaza welcomed the participants by sharing what the City has been doing to maintain peace and try to eliminate illegal drugs in Lapu-Lapu.

“We in the the City Government of Lapu-Lapu are very proactive in the campaign of President Duterte against illegal drugs, because my administration believes that if this problem is addressed, then there won’t be any threat to our police,” she said.

Lapu-Lapu was the ninth LGU that the PCOO visited to launch Rehabinasyon.

PCOO Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping III said the purpose of PCOO is to inform people about the right information and “real numbers” related to the government’s anti-drug campaign.

“The war on drugs is an investment for the future. It is about life. It is not about kill, kill, kill. It’s about life, life, life,” said Cualoping.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director Elyvenson Plaza said the country has roughly four million drug users.