Refuge for drug addicts

Church creates special ministry for drug surrenderers in Oro

CAGAYAN de Oro SOME drug dependents attended Monday's city-wide mass and procession organized by the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro which is aimed at helping suspected drug users change their lives.

Monsignor Perseus Cabunoc, vicar-general of the Archdiocese, said 1,500 drug dependents were expected to attend the event but only a few responded to the call.

A special ministry called "Jubilee of Ministry for Drug-Respondent" was created by the Archdiocese to help drug respondents until they are treated of the drug addiction.

"Tabang nalang unsay makaya nato. Mahal man kaayo ang rehab, dili makaya, so atong simbahan nag-organize niini kay naa kitay mga ka-parian, mga kamadrehan nga adunay skills sa recollection, retreats nga ilang ma-offer as part of the treatment," Cabunoc said.

Cabunoc said the Archdiocese's move is in line with the Roman Catholic's Year of Mercy to remind its flock to be compassionate especially the poor.

Archbishop Antonio Ledesma earlier urged parish priests to open their churches to become a sanctuary for silence, prayer, retreats, and recollections for drug addicts.

Cabunoc said Ledesma included churches as venue for recollection and counselling to compensate with the lack of rehab centers in the country.

If a drug respondent is sincere for treatment, Cabunoc said the church and other government agencies will help in providing them medicines and counselling for the whole year.

"I-monitor pud sila sa simbahan, police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD), and Department of Health (DOH), tanan ahensya concerning this issue, even our barangay officials and parishioners," he added.

Bigcas giving testimony

Lynard Allan Bigcas, a former drug user, appeared on Monday to speak and inspire drug users to stop their illegal drugs involvement. Bigcas made it in the headlines in 2011 for smuggling luxury cars in the city.

Claiming reformed man, Bigcas shared to drug dependents how he has overcome his addiction and provided tips to them.

"There are two kinds of stopping it (addiction), first is abrupt, meaning spiritual ang pagkachange, you pray fervently to the Lord and ask Him to guide you, second is rehab, spending three to six months, or 12 months but 25 percent lang ang assurance nga dili na mobalik," he added.

"Sa kaugalingon man gayud dapat na mag-start kay kung na-rehab ka for three months, six, but at the back of your mind, once you get out, mubalik gihapon ka, wala lang gihapon. That means the quality of your heart is drug addict gihapon," he said.

Bigcas is opposed to the extrajudicial killings happening in the country asserting that everybody has a chance to renew their lives.