TO strengthen its war against illegal drugs, the Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) will launch the Big Brother, Big Sister program for drug surrenderers next month.
Senior Supt. Royina Garma, CCPO director, said that even though they lack the manpower, she will assign some personnel to help drug surrenders so the latter won’t have a relapse.
Under the program, a police officer will be assigned to a former drug addict. His or her job is to check that the drug surrenderer is not using drugs either through text messages or through home visits.
Garma made the announcement while she was the guest speaker at the Commission on the Laity and the Lay Organizations, Movements, Associations and Services’ monthly caucus at the IC3 Convention Center on Saturday, Nov. 17.
Taking the initiative
She said they’re still finalizing the guidelines for the program with the help of the Police Community Relations, and identifying police officers who will participate.
Garma admitted that some sectors might not like the program.
“I’m just thinking of the possible negative feedback or negative comment or interpretation of the program kung ang pulis natin (if police officers) will be visiting the houses kasi (because it’s) one-on-one eto, eh,” she said.
But Garma said some members of the religious sector are willing to adopt the program to help authorities in their war against illegal drugs.
She said the program will be effective if the drug surrenderer takes the initiative to voluntarily stop taking drugs.
“The first step for change is for you to accept that you have a problem. So, kahit anong gusto ng pulis kung hindi mo tinanggap na may problema ka, hindi namin maibigay ang programa para sa iyo (If you don’t admit you have a drug problem, then the police cannot do anything to help you),” she said.
Garma said the police organization cannot wage the drug war alone, adding that the community must also do its part to solve the drug problem.
Fe Barino, chairperson of the Commission on the Laity, said they’ve already helped 750 drug surrenderers kick the drug habit through the group’s Surrender to God (SuGod) program. (From SCG of SuperBalita Cebu)