>Philippines - In the first two days of the Duterte presidency, at least 12 suspected drug traffickers and users were killed while more than 700 drug users surrendered in the cities of Taguig, Pasay and San Juan. Duterte promised during the campaign that he would have drug traffickers killed because they destroyed families and the country’s future.
>From Thursday when he assumed office until yesterday morning, eight drug suspects were killed in Bulacan, two in Cavite, one in Manila and another in Ilocos.
>Meanwhile, at least 362 drug users voluntarily surrendered yesterday to the Taguig City Police to get rehabilitated as the city police rolled out its “Oplan Tokhang.”
One of those who surrendered, 63-year-old Romeo Evangelista of Baragay Bagumbayan, said he decided to seek rehabilitation following the advice of Duterte.
“This is my chance to change. I am not afraid of what the President said because I really want to change,” he said. “I am ashamed. I did not try other vices. I don’t know why at this age I learned to use illegal drugs. I had prioritized it over the food for my family.”
>In Pasay City, at least 300 drug users and pushers surrendered to Pasay City police.
The Dangerous Drugs Board admitted yesterday that there is a need to address the readiness of facilities for the hundreds of drug users and pushers who surrendered, but the DDB considers it as a “happy problem.”
At present, there are 45 residential treatment and rehabilitation facilities in the country, 18 of which are government while 27 are privately owned. There are also one government and two private out-patient centers.
DDB chairman Felipe Rojas Jr. promised that the government would continue to work hard to provide appropriate services and interventions to the patients.
“Drug users coming to us and voluntarily submitting themselves to treatment and rehabilitation is a welcome change,” he added.
