Charles Rey Suico, a self-confessed drug pusher and user from Labogon, Mandaue City dances his heart out during a Zumba session sponsored by the Mandaue City police. (CDN PHOTO/NORMAN MENDOZA)
He’s not fond of Zumba, that dance fitness craze sweeping the country, but polio victim Charles Rey Suico finds it preferable than lying on the concrete ground soaked in his own blood.
Despite some difficulty walking due to his condition, Suico, a 38-year-old self-confessed drug pusher and user, was only too willing to join more than 700 others like him in Mandaue City on the path to reform.
Suico said he surrendered to the Basak police precinct last July 8 after he was convinced by fellow drug pushers to do so following an Oplan Tokhang in their barangay a few days earlier.
He wasn’t in the police drug watch list because he managed to conceal his illegal drug activity to police since he started doing it in 2002 or 14 years ago.
“Nahadlok ko nga basin ma-tripan og salvage sa police kay daghan na ra bang mga user ug pusher ang nangamatay sa raid (I’m afraid I may get picked on and summarily executed by the police as there were already lots of users and pushers who died in drug raids),” Suico said.
He admitted to being a burden on his parents when he started using shabu due to the influence of friends.
He started stealing and selling their belongings after his parents cut off his allowance to support his drugs and drinking habits.
Suico’s mother was a high school teacher in Consolacion town and his father was a tennis player while his sister is a manager of a company in Lapu-Lapu City.
Suico didn’t finish high school due to his drug and alcohol addiction.
When asked if he can completely turn away from his life of drugs and booze, Suico replied that he can discipline himself.
“Dili ko motuo nga maglisud na og biya ang drug addict sa iyang bisyo, depende ra na sa tawo (I don’t believe it’s difficult to quit drug addiction, it depends upon the person),” he said.
Suico got excited when he joined the clean-up drive activity initiated by the Mandaue City Police Office at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) as he helped fire victims of Barangays Guizo and Mantuyong clean their areas.
SPO3 Kerwin Bejer of the Police Community Relations (PCR) of the Mandaue City police said they keep these users and pushers busy while they look for ways to provide them livelihood.
In Consolacion town, nearly 600 self-confessed drug users and pushers surrendered to the police as of last Friday.
Senior Insp. Wilson Abot, Consolacion police chief, said the municipal government is readying a livelihood program for them.
In Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza said they are preparing a livelihood program for the drug users and pushers in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Devleopment (DSWD) and non-government organizations.
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