Alsa Droga volunteers attend a program at the Tuburan town complex (CONTRIBUTED)
SURRENDERERS were joined by police and other stakeholders in rallies aimed at raising awareness on the government’s war on illegal drugs held at Mandaue City and Tuburan town yesterday.
About 1,500 people including the surrenderers joined an anti-drug rally spearheaded by the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) at the Mandaue City Sports Complex yesterday morning.
The program started with a motorcade from Mandaue City Sports Complex and headed towards the Subangdaku area then to MC Briones Highway and back to Centro Mandaue to the complex.
Acting Mandaue City police chief Senior Supt. Roberto Alanas said they distributed leaflets, food and T-shirts to surrenderers.
“This is part of our intensified campaign in the fight against illegal drugs. In six months time we ensure a remarkable drop of illegal drug supply and criminality,” Alanas said.
Gino Paolo Amodia, director of the House of Hope and a former drug addict who underwent rehabilitation, encouraged drug users to kick their habit and undergo treatment.
In Tuburan town, Mayor Democrito Diamante led residents, surrenderers, police and other agencies in launching the “Alsa Droga” to support the police’s Oplan TokHang (Toktok Hangyo).
Diamante said volunteers of Alsa Droga will act as the eyes and ears of the police in monitoring those using illegal drugs in their town.
Diamante, also president of the Mayor’s League of the Philippines, said more than a thousand pushers and users have surrendered to the police under Oplan TokHang.
Diamante reiterated that Alsa Droga emphasizes volunteerism and not vigilantism as the community solution in eliminating the drug menace.
He said Alsa Droga volunteers underwent seminars to be oriented on how to deal with and report on drug cases.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Regional Director Yogi Felimon Ruiz said local governments should mobilize civilian volunteers to augment the campaign against illegal drug dealers.