REFORMED Drug dependents who showed up at police precincts in compliance with “Oplan Tokhang” in Lucena City in Quezon province sing carols to police officials in a move to reach out to communities as “reformed” citizens. —DELFIN T.MALLARI JR.
LUCENA CITY, Philippines—When they knock on your doors singing Christmas carols, don’t drive them away.
Just hear their message.
Sang to the tune of “Jingle Bells,” they go:
“Tokhangers, tokhangers ay namamasko
Humihingi sa inyo ng konting aguinaldo
Tokhangers, tokhangers sana ay bigyan nyo
Makita ng mundong kami ay nagbabago”
(“Tokhang” surrenderers are here for Christmas
All we ask for is a token gift
We hope you will indulge us
So the world will see that we are changing our ways).
Social bridge
Police authorities have told former drug pushers and users who have heeded the government’s antidrug campaign “Oplan Tokhang” to go caroling and reintroduce themselves to the communities as reformed citizens.
The project is a “social bridge,” said Senior Supt. Rhoderick Armamento, Quezon police director. “It’s also a way for them to publicly declare their sincere intention to reform.”
“We want to change the attitude toward them by the indifferent and frightened community,” Armamento said.
“They will be reaching out to their fellow villagers. They all need help and assistance. Let us open our doors and embrace them back, in the spirit of Christmas,” he added.
He encouraged the carolers to compose their own Christmas songs or change the lyrics of popular carols to express their intention to reform.
On Monday night, a group of former drug dependents from Barangay 2 serenaded the city police station despite the rain.
Senior Insp. Dodgie Benaid helped the group change the lyrics of “Jingle Bells” so it would better reflect their experience in battling addiction.
Armamento and Supt. Dennis de Leon, city police chief, led policemen in singing the new song with the carolers. Armamento later gave the carolers P2,000.
“This Christmas will be a happy one for us because of their (police) help. We owe them a lot,” Jose Langit, 52, a reformed user and guitarist of the group told the Inquirer.
The group also sang for the inmates, most of them facing drug-related charges.
A female inmate gifted the carolers with more than P200 in coins.
De Leon said the police had formed several groups of carolers from the more than 2,800 drug dependents in the city. Barangay tanod (village watchmen) were told to provide assistance and security to the carolers as they made the rounds of their villages.
At Barangay Cotta, Randy Romero, a former drug dependent, organized his group of carolers.
He assured residents that the money pooled from caroling would not be used to buy “shabu” (methamphetamine hydrochloride).
Appeal for understanding
“We’ve been through hell. We don’t want to return to our former vice. We appeal for understanding, not skepticism,” Romero said.
In his letter to the villagers, Romero said in Filipino: “In the spirit of Christmas, we seek the goodness of your hearts and hope that you can support us, through any financial or material means. This will be your gift to our families.”
“We are doing this as we sincerely apologize for our sins to society,” he said.
Armamento called on the public, particularly businessmen, to help provide jobs to the drug dependents.
Police records showed that at least 22,700 drug users and pushers had surrendered in the city from July 1 to Dec. 19. TVJ
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