Army spokesman Capt. Rhyan Batchar of the 10th Infantry Division says that they will be discussing the plan to prepare military camps as rehabilitation centers for drug dependents with their law enforcement counterparts.(Paulo C. Rizal/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY—The Army’s 10th Infantry Division announced that their military camps are not yet prepared to be used as rehabilitation facilities for those drug-related personnel.
Capt. Rhyan Batchar, spokesman of the 10th ID said that they still have to prepare their camps before they allow the camps to become rehabilitation centers even if it is one of the specific instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“As of now we are not yet prepared facility-wise and we shall make the necessary preparations with our law enforcement counterparts on that matter,” Batchar told Davao Today in a text message on Thursday, July 27.
However, he said that the army supports the campaign of the President and will help on the anti-illegal drug campaign since “We are one in this drug menace.”
During the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Duterte last Monday, July 25, he asked the government military to facilitate the preparation of their facilities for the druf rehabilitation of the drug-related individuals.”
“We will also prioritize the rehabilitation of drug users. We will increase the number of residential treatment and rehabilitation facilities in all regions of the country. [applause] The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will facilitate the preparation for the use of military camps and facilities for drug rehabilitation,” Duterte said during his SONA speech.
Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Andrea dela Cerna, spokesperson of Police Regional Office (PRO) said that there are a total of 39,127 drug-related personnel in Region XI.
Dela Cerna said the total figure includes 37,907 illegal drug users and 1,220 drug pushers who surrendered in the region.
“Tuloy tuloy pa rin po ang kina-conduct natin na intensified anti-illegal drug campaign within the Region (We still conduct an ongoing intensified anti-illegal drug campaign within the Region),” she said.
Dela Cerna said that PNP still welcomes those who plan to surrender “be it pushers or users.”
“Being behind bars or under the ground (are only consequences) for the people who will be defiant of the law, so we are giving enough time and opportunity for those who wants to surrender,” she said. (davaotoday.com)
