Dangerous Drugs Board proposes user treatment, rehab in jails

To further step up the administration’s campaign against illegal drugs, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) is proposing several amendments to the comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, including the establishment of treatment and rehabilitation of users in jails.

In a briefing before members of the House committee on dangerous drugs on Wednesday, DDB chairman Secretary Felipe Rojas, Jr. listed 12 proposed amendments to the existing law.

The proposal to establish rehabilitation in jails comes amid reports of proliferation of illegal drugs in jail facilities.

President Rodrigo Duterte himself said he would show soon a matrix of the structure of the illegal drug trade at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa, with Senator Leila de Lima allegedly being the highest official linked to the illicit trade.

Muntinulpa Rep. Ruffy Biazon, a member of the committee, expressed concern on the drug issues linked to the Bilibid.

“Nevermind yung drug dens, pero yung maximum security facility at that, dapat hindi napabayaan. Siyempre yun ang concern natin,” Biazon said.

Lack of rehab centers

According to Rojas, there are only 50 existing drug rehabilitation centers, 47 of which are residential facilities and three are outpatient facilities.

DDB data also showed that 4.8 million people are considered lifetime users or those who have used drugs at least once in their lifetime. Of the total, 1.8 million are current users.

Several regions are still without drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers, including the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), MIMAROPA, Negros Island Region, SOCCSKSARGEN, and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The DDB, a policymaking body, said it will propose the establishment of four additional rehabilitation centers; two of which will be in Luzon (one in Nueva Ecija), one in Bohol, and one near General Santos in Mindanao.

Rojas said that under the Dangerous Drugs Act, there ought to be rehabilitation centers per province in the country.

“Although we’re making a headway in the illegal drug operations, we still have a long way to go para masugpo ang droga na ito,” Rojas said, noting that drug trade is a P55.5-billion industry.

The number of surrenderees, Rojas said, has reached 564,109 as of August 11.

Negros Oriental Rep. Arnulfo Teves, vice chairperson of the House panel and a self-confessed former drug addict, said the DDB should help drug users commit to their rehabilitation program.

“Sana tulungan na mag-commit sila na tapusin yung program or even if they just stay after a month kasi after a week or two, they would start to get the feel of rehab na pwede na nilang ituloy,” Teves said.

Amendments

The other amendments proposed by the DDB to the Dangerous Drugs Act are as follows:

• Expansion of the definition of “den, dive or resort”
• Streamlined process for voluntary submission to treatment and rehabilitation
• Revised graduation of penalties for Sections 5 (Sale) and 11 (Possession) to make the penalties more commensurate to the offense
• Allow plea bargaining in specific offenses
• Expansion of coverage of confiscation and forfeiture
• Streamlined process for the destruction of confiscated, seized or surrendered dangerous drugs or CPECs
• Enhanced protection for school officials who caused the arrest of personalities pursuant to Section 5, Rule 113 of the Rules of Court (warrantless arrests)
• Compulsory creation of Administrative Boards by LGUs for abatement of nuisances
• Enhanced compulsory submission in treatment and rehabilitation Center of drug dependents charged with an offense
• Power to enlist the assistance of any government agency in the formulation, development, establishment and implementation of a comprehensive, integrated unified and balanced national drug prevention and control strategy
• Establishment and maintenance of field offices.

The Duterte administration has vowed to eliminate the problems of illegal drugs, crime, and corruption in the country. —KBK, GMA News