More than 1,500 drug users have surrendered to Caloocan City Mayor Oscar Malapitan and to the Caloocan Police, just three weeks after the city government intensified its all-out war against illegal drugs.
The surrender of the self-confessed drug users or pushers was effected in coordination with the chairmen of 70 barangays in the Second District of Caloocan. The surrenderees vowed to stop abusing drugs and help in the government’s campaign against narcotics.
However, Malapitan clarified that giving themselves up to authorities will not give the surrenderees an instant clearance of their illegal activities.
Instead, the Caloocan Police and the barangay officials will continuously monitor the activities of the drug personalities until the authorities are assured that the former drug suspects fully stopped their involvement with illegal drugs.
The Mayor also warned the suspects that he will not hesitate to put them behind bars the moment they receive and verify any information that they went back to their old ways.
Malapitan also promised to put up a rehabilitation center in less than a year to accommodate the city’s drug dependents and help them change for the better.
“The President, the Caloocan Police, and I will guide you, but you have to help yourselves and changing and fully turn your back from such garbage,” added the Mayor.
Meanwhile, City Police Chief Senior Supt. Johnson Almazan said the netting of drug suspects was just the start of their campaign and they will fully cooperate with the mandate of President Rodrigo Duterte and Malapitan.
Another mass surrender of different drug personalities is being set in North Caloocan.