DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur – At least 130 drug pushers and users surrendered to village officials of Tres de Mayo here on Monday afternoon, while more than 40 opted for drug rehabilitation in Zamboanga City, local authorities said.
Among those who yielded in Digos was 17-year-old Glen who admitted that he started using drugs a year ago. There were also Mar and his wife Perlas, who confessed they were forced to sell drugs after failing to find jobs.
Another drug pusher named Boyet disclosed that his source of drugs was a member of the Philippine Army.
Tres de Mayo barangay chairman Oscar Bucol said the suspects feared for their lives as they were expecting a crackdown upon the assumption to power of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, who has declared a war on drug syndicates and users.
Supt. Dario Gunabe, provincial police chief, said those who surrendered and opted for rehabilitation would be placed under surveillance and would not be charged yet.
Gunabe also urged other drug dependents and pushers in the province to come out before Duterte’s oathtaking.
Digos City Mayor Joseph Peñas said those who volunteered for rehabilitation would be given livelihood assistance by the local government, while some would be endorsed to a rehabilitation center.
In Zamboanga City, more than 40 people surrendered to the police station in Barangay Ayala over the weekend.
Chief Insp. Helen Galvez, the spokesperson of the Zamboanga City Police Office, said that among the 46 were 23 drug pushers.
“Three of the 23 are classified as among the top 10 most wanted in Ayala,” Galvez said.
Supt. Luisito Magnaye, the city police chief, said five more surrendered in the villages of Tetuan and Sinunuc.
He said those who surrendered in Tetuan were sons of barangay officials and tanods (village watchmen). SFM