Anti-drug crusaders launch caravan

Busloads of anti-drug crusaders launched a caravan yesterday from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Quezon City to various agencies, including the Philippine National Police headquarters in Camp Crame, in a bid to stop the drug menace in the country.

According to PDEA Director General Anselmo Avenido, the campaign dubbed as "Lakbay Aral Kontra Droga" is aimed at educating the youth on the ill-effects of illegal drugs, the current drug situation and the capability of the agency to detect illegal drug shipments. Also part of the campaign are the popular K-9 dogs.

Some 600 participants coming from the Sangguniang Kabataan and barangays from various municipalities in Metro Manila were given a tour of Camp Crame after a brief stop-over at the PDEA Museum.

"The program showed the participants that they only have two options — either to lead a drug-free life or live a miserable life because of drugs," Avenido said.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Joey Lina, Anti-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force commander Deputy Director General Edgar Aglipay and top PDEA officials also gave participants a glimpse of the lives of former drug dependents that have ended up at the National Mental Hospital in Mandaluyong City, the New Bilibid Prisons in Muntinlupa City and the Center for Ultimate Rehabilitation of Drug Dependents in Bicutan, Taguig.

Avenido said the program aims to touch the lives of the youth so that they can become a positive influence among their peers.

"They can serve as catalysts of change for national development," Avenido said.

The Lakbay Aral Kontra Droga was formalized during a signing of a multi-agency agreement among the Dangerous Drugs Board, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), PDEA, PNP-AIDSOT Force, National Federation of Sangguniang Kabataan and the National Youth Commission. — Christina Mendez