Bato on lack of drug rehab efforts: ‘Don’t just criticize, help us’

By: Julliane Love De Jesus - 8 years ago

PNP Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. JULLIANE LOVE DE JESUS/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa on Monday admitted that the government’s rehabilitation efforts are lacking after over half a million drug users and pushers have surrendere, but stressed that this would not make the police stop from implementing operations “Tokhang” and “Double Barrel.”

Dela Rosa, in a press briefing at Camp Crame, urged sectors criticizing the government for failing to subject all 700,000 drug “surrenderees” to rehabilitation to instead help the police and government in the intensive campaign against drugs.

“Inaamin ng gobyerno ang pagkukulang talaga natin (The government admits its shortcomings). What do the community expects us to do? The police will stop from our Tokhang operations? We will stop from implementing our Double Barrel project? May headway na tayo. Nasa atin ‘yung momentum. Tapos ma-i-stop lang sa criticism na ‘yan na sige lang ‘yung papasurrender hindi niyo pala kaya rehabilitate ‘yung mga tao (We already have the headway. The momentum is with us. Then we would just allow the criticisms of lacking the ability to rehabilitate drug surrenderees stop us?),” Dela Rosa told reporters.

“What do you want us to do? Please help us. Instead of criticizing the government, mag-isip kayo ng magandang paraan ‘yung mga critics dyan. Tulungan niyo kami. Ano ang gawin namin? Iiyak na lang kami (I hope the critics would just think of a good solution. Help us. What would we do? Would we just cry)?”

““So ano mangyayari ngayon? Dadami na naman ang krimen. Marami na naman ang mamamatay, marami ang mare-rape at pinaka-importante doon masaya na naman ang mga mayayaman na drug lord dahil tuloy na naman ang negosyo nila (So what would happen now? The crime rate would go up. Many people would be killed, raped and the rich drug lords would rejoice because their business would continue),” he added.

Dela Rosa said that the problem on rehabilitation was recently discussed in a Cabinet meeting, adding that some stakeholders from the business sector have pledged some amount to build rehabilitation centers.

Vice President Ma. Leonor “Leni” Robredo earlier pointed out that the government’s drug drive lacks an element of rehabilitation. She then called for a meeting with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), PNP and other concerned agencies to discuss how can the government further improve its rehabilitation programs.

Robredo also offered the resources of the Office of the Vice President in putting up rehabilitation centers for drug dependents surrendering to the police.

“So I am in a quandary. Itong mga Pilipino na sige ang criticize sa amin (Those Filipinos who are criticizing us), I am pleading to please help us instead of criticizing us. Pareho naman tayong Pilipino. Gusto natin ang magandang komunidad na safe ang lahat so magtulungan tayo. Inaamin namin na hindi namin kaya. Wala kaming rehabilitation facilities. So anong gawin natin? Hinto kami (We are all Filipinos. We all want a safe community so let us help each other. We admit that we can’t do it on our own)? It’s impossible for us to stop. Continue kami (We would continue). It doesn’t stop us. Nobody can stop us,” Dela Rosa said.