Over 200 drug personalities surrender in Cavite town

Two of the most wanted drug personalities in Cavite joined more than 200 drug users and pushers who surrendered on Monday during the flag raising ceremony at the Noveleta municipal hall.

A report by GMA News' John Consulta on "Balitanghali" said aside from the seventh and 10th most wanted men, two elected barangay officials also surrendered in the company of their families for fear of their safety.

The suspects were made to swear an oath during the ceremony promising to turn away from illegal narcotics, the report said. A system will be in place to check their compliance afterward.

Mayor Dino Reyes Chua said those who surrendered will be given livelihood programs and initial capital aside from rehabilitation to ensure they will not go back to using illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, Noveleta deputy police chief P/Insp. Artemio Tinggo noted that the surrender of the town's notorious drug pushers would be a big blow to the illegal drug trade in their municipality.

He also said they would still continue to monitor the suspected drug pushers who have yet to surrender as of Monday morning.

The report also said Noveleta authorities blamed poverty to the drug problem in the area, as many are lured to become pushers because of the easy money.

The surrender came amid a nationwide crackdown on illegal drug suspects, resulting in the deaths of over 100 suspects since President Rodrigo Duterte, a known anti-illegal drug advocate, took office on June 30. —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK, GMA News