AROUND 200 members of Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Mandaue joined the anti-drug symposium at Ibabao-Estancia barangay hall in Mandaue City on Monday.
The speakers were lawyer Mauro Licen of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency; P/CInsp. Jesus Elmer Fernandez, police station 1 chief of Mandaue City Police Office; and Ginno Paolo Amodia, a self-confessed drug addict.
“We just couldn’t watch these people who are engaged in illegal drug activities. It’s about time to stop them. That’s why we are involving the youth because this is where we want to start the fight,” said Ibabao-Estancia barangay captain Jun Del Mar in a speech during the gathering.
He informed the participants that the two raids in their barangay was part of their efforts to go after drug personalities in coordination with the police.
Others in the barangay were also being warned to stop pushing drugs.
Fernandez lectured on the effects of drug abuse to individuals and the community and the weight of its punishment.
He also gave tips on how to detect drug dens and drug pushers in their area and showed some drug paraphernalia and real packets of shabu.
A very touching story of a self-confessed drug addict was shared by a certain Amodia, 34, of barangay Ibabao-Estancia.
“It started with curiosity of smoking marijuana. Later on, I became an addict and I even stole our belongings and traded it for drugs. I was confined to a drug rehabilitation center for four months but later went into drugs again, losing hope of recovery. I decided to undergo another rehabilitation and I was completely cured. I said to myself not to use drugs anymore and instead walk a new life with the Lord’s guidance,” said Amodia in front of a crowd of young people. /CORRESPONDENT NORMAN V. MENDOZA