ANTI-DRUG CRUSADERS LAUNCH CARAVAN

Busloads of anti-drug crusaders launched a caravan yesterday from the
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Quezon City to various
agencies, including the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp
Crame, in a bid to stop the drug menace in the country.

According to PDEA Director General Anselmo Avenido, the campaign dubbed as
"Lakbay Aral Kontra Droga" is aimed at educating the youth on the
ill-effects of illegal drugs, the current drug situation and the capability
of the agency to detect illegal drug shipments. Also part of the campaign
are the popular K-9 dogs.

Some 600 participants coming from the Sangguniang Kabataan and barangays
from various municipalities in Metro Manila were given a tour of Camp Crame
after a brief stop-over at the PDEA Museum.

"The program showed the participants that they only have two options either
to lead a drug-free life or live a miserable life because of drugs,"
Avenido said.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Joey Lina, Anti-Illegal Drugs
Special Operations Task Force commander Deputy Director General Edgar
Aglipay and top PDEA officials also gave participants a glimpse of the
lives of former drug dependents that have ended up at the National Mental
Hospital in Mandaluyong City, the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City
and the Center for Ultimate Rehabilitation of Drug Dependents in Bicutan,
Taguig.

Avenido said the program aims to touch the lives of the youth so that they
can become a positive influence among their peers.

"They can serve as catalysts of change for national development," Avenido said.

The Lakbay Aral Kontra Droga was formalized during a signing of a
multi-agency agreement among the Dangerous Drugs Board, Department of the
Interior and Local Government (DILG), PDEA, PNP-AIDSOT Force, National
Federation of Sangguniang Kabataan and the National Youth Commission. —
Christina Mendez