Among the challenges confronting the Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO) in its all-out war against illegal drugs is how to help the alarming number of juvenile drug surrenderers, said CPPO Director Jose Macanas.
“Sa lahat po ng mga areas (in the region), not to mention, tayo po ang napakaraming surrenderers. Kung napapansin niyo pa, napakaraming minors (Among all other areas, we have the most number of surrenderers. If you have noticed, there are a lot of minors),” Macanas said.
Based on the records of the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO), Cebu Province has 1,412 youth surrenderers with ages ranging from 18-years old to eight-years old.
“1,396 of them admitted into using prohibited drugs while 10 declared that they are delivery personnel or into peddling illegal drugs,” Macanas added.
Macanas said they are seeking the assistance of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in addressing the needs of the young surrenderers.