10/09/2016
ABOUT 2,000 residents, students, teachers, and government employees joined in anti-illegal drug rally in Minglanilla yesterday morning.
Mayor Elanito Peña and municipal officials led the parade dubbed “Alyansa Laban sa Droga (Alliance Against Drugs).”
The official believes the problem of illegal drugs has seeped into the 19 barangays of the municipality. He said about 1,000 drug pushers and users have surrendered and promised to abandon illegal drugs.
“Kanang ilegal nga droga wala gyod nay ayo (Illegal drugs are no good),” he said Peña.
Carmen Durano-Meca, a former Provincial Board member who now heads the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO), represented Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III.
“Atong timan-an nga ang kalampusan sa atong pakigbatok sa ilegal nga dr**as dili lamang masulod sa kon pila na kadaghan ang nisurender, dili lang sa kon pila na ka big-time drug protectors ang napanganlan ug samot nga dili lang usab base sa pila ka libo na ang nangamatay (Let us be reminded that our success in the fight against illegal drugs does not depend on how many surrendered; how many were named and much more not on how many have died),” said Meca, reading the message of Davide.
She further said, “Ang kalamposan mao ang tinud-anay nga pagbag-o sa mga kaniadtong nabiktima sa ilegal nga dr**as, ang kalamposan mao ang pag-amgo sa matag usa kanato nga ang pag-abuso sa dr**as walay dala nga kaayohan (The success is based on the victims of illegal drugs’ decision to change. The success is for everyone to realize that drug abuse has not done anything good).”
CPADAO is now implementing a community-based crisis intervention program designed for surrenderees.
Of the 1,066 barangays in Cebu Province excluding the highly-urbanized cities, 934 or 88 percent are affected by illegal drugs, according to CPADAO.
Meca, quoted in an earlier report, said 14 barangays are seriously affected, 407 are moderately affected, 513 are slightly affected, while only 132 barangays are not affected by drugs.
Of the 14 barangays that are seriously affected five are in the first district, another five are in fifth district, while the second, third, sixth and seventh districts have one barangay each.
Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 said they are glad with Minglanilla’s support for the eradication of illegal drugs.
“Kon ang ahensiya ra sa gobiyerno ang molihok, ang katawhan walay ayuda gamay ra kaayo atong mabuhat (If the government will work alone without the help of the citizens then we can only do so much),” said Lawas, the deputy regional director for operations.
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2016/09/09/execs-appeal-mingla-folks-support-496783