The Catholic Church claimed Tuesday 276 people were now free from drug addiction after being admitted at a Church-owned drug-addiction recovery facility.
In a radio interview, Caloocan Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said this development proved that people who were once addicted under the influence of drugs could still reform and be rehabilitated.
David, in an interview over the Church-owned Radyo Veritas, said their rehabilitation did not stop when they left the facility but the recoveries would undergo an “after-care” through a continued counselling with their respective support groups to prevent them from having a relapse.
David reiterated the Church’s efforts to support the Philippine government in its fight against illegal drugs—but in a different approach.
The bishop believes that eradicating illegal drug use and trades should be done through adhering to the rule of law and due process.
So far, he said, the Carrots Salubong Completion rites was in its third year of helping drug addicts recover from their addictions.
David said these individuals had undergone counselling, spiritual renewal, and even livelihood programs to be able to live and sustain himself after being away from the community.
As soon as he assumed office in July 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte launched his bloody campaign against illegal drugs, killing 4,000 drug users and dealers.
Meanwhile, Commission on Catechesis and Catholic Education bishop Robert Mallari said he wanted a stronger anti-drug education instead of surprise police inspections of student bags and school lockers.
He said providing students with necessary information would better help them avoid or overcome drug problems.
“After seeing the vast problem of drugs in the country, we have to be more proactive in solving this problem,” Mallari said.
“I think that we should even give our students more information about this problem so that they become part in the effort to eradicate this problem,” he added.
National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Guillermo Eleazar earlier said they wanted to conduct random inspections of bags and lockers of elementary to senior high school students.
Eleazar said the move sought to address student substance abuse or deter drug users in schools.
