The Current Scenario
The daily news reports bear the
voluntary submission of drug-related offenders be it in the Metro Manila or in
the farthest Barangay in the provinces. Recent Killings involving Drug Trafficking has alarmed human
rights advocates. There are those who are
entrapped BUT has exchanged bullets with the police operatives and still others
are gunned-down by vigilantes riding in-tandem (who are believed to be
liquidated by their syndicate association). I am one of the self-confessed
followers of the President and his ‘Change is Coming’ crusade – that
includes fighting corruption, criminality as well as on illegal-drugs.
We need each
other’s help to accommodate the thousands of surrendering drug personalities
around the country. It is not imaginable
that the ‘drug menace’ is this WORST already – almost a hundred thirty
thousand individuals has surrendered No wonder why heinous crime perpetrators
had become the usual cover of daily newspapers. Together we can help make this
CHANGE come true. It would not be that
easy especially considering the means these former pushers find a way of living
after drugs. But I believe in lessening criminality, more investors will come
(plus the traffic solution may have a riffling effect too) to us.
The Duterte Administration’s Conviction
The President has warned the
public of his intensive and massive campaign on the use and trafficking of
illegal drugs. He has admonished
everyone to surrender themselves to the authorities before getting killed (in
case they resist and fight) on a buy-bust operation etc.
President Duterte likewise warned
the law enforcers should observe legalities and the existing Laws on dealing with the apprehension
of the offenders. However, crooked policemen might take advantage
of the self-defense alibi, IF ever they wanted to silence an accomplice or even cohorts for the drug-recycling trade PNP
Chief Ronaldo dela Rosa has mentioned on his assumption speech. He revealed the style of the unscrupulous
policemen re-selling drugs confiscated from raids done by their department
which he tagged as ninja cops. This DOES NOT NECESSARILY generalize all
policemen BUT few exist in reality.
The CHANGE is Coming
‘Change is Coming…’ but again, it must be
EVERYBODY’S effort. Let us challenge
private individuals, Foundations, Non-government Agencis (NGOs) to help us
realize the immediate need for the construction of Rehab facilities. The government is very much willing to give
chances to the users and pushers as long as they will join the government’s
aim to eradicate illegal drug’s existence. Ordinary citizens like me can
stimulate awareness for the concerned sectors through social media and blogging
platforms.
Let us welcome the idea from the Department of Health
– that an ISLAND shall be considered as the reformatory home of these drug addicts and pushers so as to curtail their freedom of communication –
so that drug syndicates can not reach them and bother their change of course.
This is for their safety too. The
killings of drug men, it is not possible that their former ‘black trade’
comrades would pay to assassinate them afraid of being tracked if they are in
an island. They can be given access to video calling just in front of police
officers scheduled to accommodate all prisoner’s personal calls from relatives
and loved ones. Island owners can be a donor for the mission.
Behind the News Stories
The pitiful drug traffickers
who were just forced to this kind of job by poverty and illiteracy (lack of formal education that could somehow
employ them to a decent job) who had mistakenly associated themselves to corrupt policemen or politicians had
become an INEVITABLE target of two
manhunt operations – the government and those dishonest cops/syndicates. I suppose that it is maybe the reason why
some of the users and traffickers think
twice of submitting themselves to the authorities, afraid that they will not be given a chance and be executed before they
could expose their cohorts. As I see
on tv, there are thousands who voluntarily gave-in to the President’s appeal
and has been promised to be helped-out.
Rehabilitation and Renewal Programs
But since the government is not
that READY to accommodate all of them in Drug Rehab facilities – after
assessment of the drug addicts’ stage of drug-dependence and addiction, NOT all
of them should go to the rehab. Or they
could also be kept in a guarded facility for their life’s protection. If I may
suggest to General dela Rosa – the individuals who wanted to confess and point
authorities involved shall be given WITNESS
PROTECTION PROGRAM as long as their ‘boss’ is at large, because they MIGHT
possibly be executed as soon as they are released finishing the ‘oath-taking on excluding themselves on drug
activities’- their lives are at stake, indeed!
Before we go to the rigorous
training of the caught individuals they must have an appointment with a Guidance Counselor to balance their
self-esteem and instill in them the value
of hard-earned money as well as
dignity and legacy to their children and family. We can not deny their
getting accustomed to easy-money and they need to adjust intellectually and
emotionally.
Recently billion worth of drugs
confiscated were burned down – PDEA, laboratory personnel and PAO Chief Atty.
Precida Acosta has witnessed it. The drugs are all tested first (if real
drugs and not switched or altered) before putting in the incineration
machine. That is very clever! We are VERY SURE that what has been burned
are REAL DRUGS and that they had not been sent back to the society by those ninja cops.
Suggestions:
- Public Announcement accepting Donations from
Foundations around the world in building high-end Drug Rehab facilities. Attention to SM Foundation/Kapuso Foundation
etc.
- the Government should declare searching for DONORS for the urgent
rehab erection:
a. Construction
Companies can donate labor force. Even just a day of ‘Bayanihan’
from different companies would mean a lot.
b. Manufacturers -
of building materials can also give in-kind donations of cement,
hollow blocks, aggregates, steel rods etc.
c. Foundations for a good cause can also give
CASH donations.
d. Individuals who
own lands/lots/building structures (subject for immediate renovation)
can donate or sell their properties to the government for the location of drug
facilities.
(Budget only, no direct control of the facility to
avoid any forms of abusive control or corruption. Must sign a no-strings
attached agreement.
The gratitude to the donors– donor’s name or Foundation Logo shall be embossed in the building
or be written in the Profile/History of the Rehab Facility.
To CUT on Professional Fees:
- Encourage VOLUNTEER visiting doctors and health
workers (as well as interns) that
are partners for change. No salaries.
Their names and photos shall be posted in a mini museum of the Rehab.
-Accept on-the-job-trainees (OJTs) from different
universities in healthcare and supervision assistance.
Work/Jobs for Traffickers/Pushers:
-TESDA /TLRC
should give FREE seminars and
skills training – getting a livelihood for them is a MUST so they would not
come back to the old ways left without a choice.
Factory Workers
- discuss the biggest consumables
the government is using daily (like papers ballpens etc.) on the National level
be manufactured by a government-owned factory (to cut on cost and give jobs) to
be manned by supervisors and previous drug traffickers.
-Mandatory and random drug
testing shall be implemented for assurance.
A worker proved to be NO SINCERE commitment to change shall be
terminated and jailed. That is because he wasted the chance given.
Farmers
- seminars and state-of-the-art
(not OBSOLETE) technical education on farming/poultry
Maintenance
Positions on Government Agencies/Streets
Janitorial jobs/Street
Sweepers/MMDA Gardeners-plant keepers/River Cleaners/Road painters/construction
workers/Polluted Rivers Cleaners/Park gardeners
‘Products
of Change’
Government Invitation for
Inventors and businessmen for suggested products the government can run
manufacturing with grounds on lower material cost (from indigenous or
recyclable materials) that will surely be marketable and exportable. These
items can be labeled as ‘products made
by people who wanted to renew their lives after drug addiction and the like’ –
I do not think that the world market can resist the product.
Availability
of Loans or Grants for a Micro-Business Start-up:
The Investment should be
supervised by government personnel to ensure proper expenditure. Loan payments
and amortization shall be made after a year so that the borrower can freely
maximize earnings and business potential. Budget can be generated from the following Sources:
- Foundations
Donations from Humanitarian
Foundations worldwide shall be accepted.
- Sin Taxes
From liquors, cigarettes and
luxury items.
- An account
should be open named ‘New Philippines’
to accept donations from private
sectors and individuals. Even a single peso could mean so much if every Filipino
can contribute. Just the 16M people who voted Duterte meant PhP 16 M cash to fund a particular
rehabilitation project.
- Bank
accounts of fictitious individuals
should be sequestered by the government like the Jose Pidal account and the
Swiss accounts of the Marcos family.
-The auction of
Imelda’s jewelries to the public worldwide can help a lot too.
I am optimistic that these humble
suggestions can reach the DESK OF OUR DEAR PRESIDENT so that each of us can be
PART of the our long-awaited CHANGE.
Please re-share this article on your favorite social sites
like here in G+, FB, Twitter etc. Let us
be part of the CHANGE PUZZLE the government is trying to solve.
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