WHAT would be a better way to kick bad habits for good? Try sweating it out.
This is what the Police Regional Police Office 7 did on Saturday, February 2, when it gathered 200 drug surrenderers to a basketball tournament together with the men in uniform in Lapu-Lapu City.
Senior Superintendent Limuel Obon, Lapu-Lapu City Police Director, said the tournament was organized as a way to help drug surrenderers find an outlet for their time and allow them to reform for the better.
He said this is because some drug surrenderers would often return to their old bad habits due to boredom or inactivity.
While some clinical studies have shown that exercise is effective at reducing substance abuse and use.
“Our aim is to show that they are accepted in society and we’re hopeful that they will forget their illegal drug use and to live good lives. Some of them are workers but we don’t want them to go back to their vices, thus the need to expose them in sports,” Obon said.
Obon said they initiated the tournament in Barangay Basak because it has the most number of drug surrenderers in the entire city. It will be held on a weekly basis.
Aside from the six teams composed of drug surrenderers, also participating in the tournament are two teams from the local police.
The tournament, which was held in Barangay Basak gym, was attended by PRO 7 officials led by Chief Supt. Debold Sinas, Obon and personnel from the LLCPO and village officials.
After the opening of the tournament, the drug surrenderers were treated with a traditional “boodle fight” or shared meal by the local police. (GCM of Superbalita Cebu)