400 DRUG PUSHERS, USERS SURRENDER

FOUR hundred suspected drug pushers and users voluntarily surrendered to the
local police command late Saturday afternoon.

This brought the total number of suspected drug pushers and users who
surrendered to the local police to around 600 since government stepped up its
campaign against illegal drugs last June 16.

For voluntarily giving themselves up, their names would be stricken out from
the police's long list of drug pushers and users.

The local police command is keeping a long list of persons suspected of being
involved in the illegal drug activities in the city.

Earlier, the City Government and the local police warned anybody involved in
the illicit drug trade to voluntarily surrender or face the full force of the
law.

Suspected drug pushers and users were given until Sept. 15 to voluntarily turn
themselves in to the local authorities.

Senior Supt. Jorge Aquisap told reporters that the 400 suspected drug pushers
and users came from the city's 21 barangays, which are still battling out the
drug menace in their localities.

So far, only five out of the city's 26 barangays were declared drug-free. These
include Barangays Fatima, San Isidro, Conel, Ligaya and Batomelong.

Mayor Pedro Acharon Jr. told reporters that before a certain barangay can be
declared drug-free, there must be a resolution duly approved by a concerned
barangay council and a certification signed by the Anti Drug Council declaring
the area drug-free.

The City Government was planning to come up with livelihood projects to help in
the reformation and rehabilitation of the drug pushers and users who
voluntarily yielded.

The City Government and the police will also appoint guardians from among the
local residents with good moral standing to help in the monitoring of the
progress and activities of those undergoing the drug rehab program.

Acharon said he would ask the City Council to pass a measure allocating a
budget for the livelihood projects of the drug pushers and users who showed
interest in starting a new life.

He said that without providing them alternative livelihood, those involved in
the illegal drug trade would continue with their nefarious activities. CPIO/AZ