BAGUIO CITY — The Duterte administration is taking a holistic approach in the country’s drug problem, putting a premium on the dependents’ rehabilitation, a palace official stressed here on Friday.
On the sidelines of Baguio’s 20th “Tam-awan” celebration of culture and arts, Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Marie Rafael-Banaag said the government’s “Rehabinasyon” program is a convergence of the government’s various agencies to enforce President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs in the country.
A “portmanteau” of rehabilitation and nation in Filipino, “Rehabinasyon” gives importance to the rehabilitation of drug surrenderers, she said. The program was launched in June 21, 2017.
“Mas nagfo-focus po tayo sa pag rehabiliate ng mga kababayan natin na nag surrender at pagtulong sa mga kababayan natin na gustong magbago (We focus on the rehabilitation of our fellow Filipinos who surrender, and on giving assistance to those who want to change),” Banaag said.
The official said Rehabinasyon has two major phases–police operations and rehabilitation or treatment of drug dependents.
Under the program, agencies involved go around the country to inform and update the communities on the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign. “They go around the country informing itong mga kababayan natin nasaan na ba tayo sa ating anti illegal drugs campaign,” she said.
She said the program comes up monthly with what the government calls “the real numbers”, or the statistics on the anti-drugs campaign like numbers of arrests and charges filed in court.
Rehabinasyon is led by the PCOO. Other major agencies involved in the program are the Philippine National Police, Public Information Office, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Customs, Dangerous Drugs Board, Department of Justice, and the Philippine Information Agency.
Banaag said the numbers are released through the PDEA central office. All information about the government’s anti illegal drugs campaign can be seen in the websites of government information agencies. (PNA)
