CABINET Secretary Leoncio Evasco said Tuesday the Duterte administration will tap business tycoons in its plans to build four large drug rehabilitation centers to house drug addicts seeking rehabilitation.
“We can ask them to do their share in this campaign. We have been giving so much to them,” Evasco told GMA News.
He made the statement even as the military said it was willing to allow the use of military camps as rehabilitation centers for drug users.
“As per Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, the camps [that can be used as rehabilitation centers] should have large spaces like Fort Magsaysay in Palayan, Nueva Ecija; Camp Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal; and Camp Osito D. Bahian in Malaybalay, Bukidnon,” Armed Forces spokesman Restituto Padilla said.
Meanwhile, a police officer believed involved in “recycling” confiscated illegal drugs was killed in a shootout with lawmen during a buy-bust operation in Quezon City at dawn on Tuesday.
Quezon City Police Chief Guillermo Eleazar identified the slain police officer as Senior Insp. Ramon Castillo, 46.
Under the administration’s plan, two rehabilitation centers will be built in Luzon while the Visayas and Mindanao will have one rehab center each.
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said the plan to set up more rehabilitation centers in the country was prompted by reports of hundreds of drug users and pushers voluntarily turning themselves in.
“Regarding the campaign versus illegal drugs, there are plans to set up regional rehabilitation centers for the rehabilitation of drug users,” Abella said.
Interior Secretary Mike Sueno said his Department was now finalizing arrangements with other LGUs that had articulated their commitment to support the drive against illegal drugs and to donate land.