Thousands of alleged drug users and pushers surrendered to local authorities in response to the Intensified Anti-Illegal Drug Campaign of the City Government of Tagum on Sunday, July 9. (Leo Timogan/Tagum City Information Office)
DAVAO CITY — The police is finding congested jails with the increasing number of surrenderees of suspected personalities involved in illegal.
Based on the record of Police Regional Office (PRO) in Davao region, a total of 95 were arrested from July 1 to July 10, 38 of them from Davao City.
Senior Inspector Catherine Dela Rey, the new Davao City Police Office spokesperson, said they have already discussed the problem during their staff conference.
“We saw that problem because the capacity of our detention cells is limited,” Dela Rey said.
She said they talked with City Councilor Nilo Abellera for possible legislative measures to decongest the city’s detention cells.
Among the proposed solution is to fast track the remanding of drug dependents and to widen detention cells.
As for the rehabilitation centers, she said that most of the surrenderees decided not to undergo rehabilitation and instead committed that they will stop using drugs.
“Most involved were fathers and they said that instead of being rehabilitated, they will commit to stop using illegal drugs,” she said.
Arnold Rosales, the newly-appointed regional director of the National Bureau of Investigation said that the NBI is verifying all the list of suspected drug personalities in Davao region.
Rosales said drug traders are now using the “kilala system” where they only sell drugs to people they know.
“They are not disposing drugs to people they don’t know well,” he said.
Rosales said they are encouraging those involved in illegal drugs trade to surrender to avoid trouble. (With a report from Jennica Diaz, MSU Intern/davaotoday.com)
