Thousands rally against drug abuse

THOUSANDS of Cebuanos converged in Fuente Osmeña yesterday to declare war against illegal drugs.

They burned two effigies of drug users, carried placards and listened to speeches.

The rally was organized by the Movement Against Drugs (MAD) to tap community support for the campaign against illegal drugs which is preying mostly on the youth.

Senior Supt. Melvin Ramon Buenafe, chief of Cebu City Police Office, estimated that 25,000 people showed up.

Communities can help law enforcers arrest and file criminal cases agianst drug offenders, he said.

“We should never try illegal drugs,” Philip Fuentes, a 15-year-old year high school student of the Pardo National High School, who attended the rally.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama joined the march to the Fuente Osmeña circle.

Also seen were Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy Rep. Pastor Alcover, Jr., Cebu Provincial Board Member Carmen Remedios Durano-Meca, who chairs the PB anti-illegal drugs committee and lawyer Paul Clarence Oaminal, former vice chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board.

Jigger Montallana, head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7), led the oath of commitment against illegal drugs./Rhea Ruth V. Rosell and Chito O. Aragon