MALACAÑANG stressed Monday the importance of the partnership initiated between the Roman Catholic diocese of Novaliches, the Quezon City government, and the Philippine National Police (PNP) for the implementation of a community-based drug rehabilitation program.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella, through Assistant to the Presidential Spokesperson China Jocson, said the Diocese of Novaliches' collaboration with the Quezon City government under the Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation Program-Abot Kamay Alang-Alang sa Pagbabagong-Buhay was "a commendable move to proactively help the national government in the anti-illegal drug campaign."
"It is hoped that this kind of partnership can be replicated by the PNP and other offices involved in the comprehensive anti-illegal drugs campaign with other dioceses, as well as other churches and church groups in the country," Jocson, reading Abella's statement, said.
"This kind of collaboration between the government and the Church is what our people expect, as indicated by a recent survey, showing majority saying that the Catholic Church must help with the rehabilitation of drug addicts," she added.
President Rodrigo Duterte has been critical of the Church leaders because of their alleged interference in the government's intensified drive against narcotics' trade.
The partnership agreement came following a September 24 to 30 survey conducted by pollster Pulse Asia, which showed that 58 percent of 1,200 respondents nationwide sought Catholic Church's assistance in the rehabilitation of the administration's crackdown on illegal drugs.
Abella said the Duterte government was open to the Church's proactive participation in treating drug dependents who wished to undergo rehabilitation.
"The complementary work of the government and the Church in the treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependents must further be enhanced, particularly in areas such as restoration of mental, spiritual, and psycho-emotional health," he said. (SunStar Philippines)