Now, that’s last minute.
Just hours before President Rodrigo Duterte’s inauguration this morning, nearly 100 suspected drug user surrendered in the barangay hall of Poblacion, Sarangani province.
The suspects said that they chose to surrender after hearing that their names were included on a watchlist.
“May nakapagsabi kasi sa akin, sir, na nasa listahan daw ako. Nag-surrender ako, sir, kasi ayaw kong mabaril na lang ako diyan habang naglalakad ako,” said a 22-year-old drug suspect.
(“Someone told me that I am in the list. I surrendered because I don’t want to get gunned down while walking”)
Their drug of choice? Most of those who surrendered were using methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu, ABS-CBN News reports.
The so-called drug watchlist came from the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council.
Baranggay officials didn’t even have to convince the drug users to surrender.
“Ito na lang yong chance nila kaya sumuko sila. Bigyan natin sila ng pagkakataon na makapagbago. At sinusuportahan natin ang ating pangulo na linisin ang mga barangay natin sa bansa,” he said.
(“This is their lasst chance to surrnder. Let’s give them an opportunity to change. Let’s support our President in cleaning the barangays of our country”)
Duterte stressed his administration’s campaign to fight drugs.
An intensified crackdown against drug peddlers started happening even before he assumed office.
All those who surrender will undergo drug symposium before they will be recommended for technical training and benefit from any livelihood assistance.
