A TOTAL of 16 individuals who previously availed of the plea bargaining agreement were rearrested for illegal drugs, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) reported.
In a press conference Tuesday, March 3, at the DCPO conference room, DCPO Director Kirby John Kraft said of the 18 who returned to their old ways, 16 were rearrested during police operations while two perished after resisting arrest.
Individuals involved in illegal drug activities who were arrested are given the chance to avail of the plea bargaining agreement depending on the ruling of the judicial court.
“Plea bargaining, galing [yan] sa Supreme Court na sinusunod ng mga judicial courts. Sila yong magde-determine kung ire-release ka o hindi,” Kraft said.
Kraft added that the court, however, consults them if someone applies for plea bargaining. They send a recommendation if that person’s release will be approved.
The program is available for those caught in possession of very small quantities of “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride), marijuana, and other illegal drugs. They will have their jail sentences reduced and their fines lowered.
Since the war on drugs took off sometime in July 2016, DCPO has arrested almost 1,888 drugs suspects in Davao City. Out of that number, 1,200 applied for plea bargaining agreement and around 200 have been approved by the court for release.
Kraft, meanwhile, admitted that illegal drugs remain to be a prevalent problem in Davao City. He, however, assured that those who will waste their chance to reform will be rearrested should they not stop their illegal activities.