800 self-confessed pushers, users surrender in Lucena

Hundreds of drug users and pushers all over the country have surrendered to the police for drug rehabilitation and assistance to shift to legal livelihood. (CDN FILE PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

LUCENA , Quezon – More than 800 self-confessed illegal drug pushers and users from Lucena City voluntarily surrendered to police and local government officials on Wednesday morning.

The self-confessed pushers and users converged at the Punzalan Gym in Lucena City. They admitted that they turned themselves in “due to extreme fear” of the series of summary executions of suspected drug pushers all over the country. In Quezon province, the death toll of drug-related killings rose to 35 since President Rodrigo Duterte, who has declared a “bloody” war on drugs, assumed office, according to police reports.

Supt. Dennis de Leon, Lucena police chief, vowed that the police would strive to make Lucena drug-free in three months with the active cooperation of those who have opted for drug rehabilitation and reform, and with the support of the local government the city. He told the assembly that he would authorize them to arrest the remaining drug traffickers in their respective villages.

Lucena Mayor Roderick Alcala promised the assembly of drug users and pushers that the city government would fully assist them in their transition to a normal, productive life. He said the local government has been preparing a comprehensive plan on how to provide alternative livelihood to drug dependents and also to assist them in undergoing rehabilitation.  SFM