By DIANN IVY CALUCIN
Caloocan City Mayor Gonzalo Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan ordered the Caloocan Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) to strengthen its partnership with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) in implementing its rehabilitation program for persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the city.
"Strengthening our rehabilitation programs for PDLs involved in the illegal use of drugs could help in addressing our problem in jail congestion," said Malapitan, who also chairs CADAC, during the council meeting on Saturday, Sept. 17
The council gathered to discuss the city government's programs, including the continuous implementation of Community Assisted Rehabilitation and Research Outpatient Treatment (CARROTS), which provides counseling sessions to clients to help them recover from long-term abuse of illegal drugs.
“Ituloy-tuloy natin at mas palawigin pa ang rehabilitation program natin sa lungsod. Tulungan natin ang ating kapulisan sa ating laban kontra ilegal na droga at bigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang mga kababayan natin na nais magbago (Let's continue to further extend our rehabilitation program in the city. Let's help our police in the fight against illegal drugs, and let's give our countrymen a chance to change),” the mayor stated.
Caloocan Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CADAO) officer-in-charge Sonny Amoyo also reported that they signed a resolution with BJMP represented by Jail Senior Superintendent Emmanuel Tolentino.
Under the said resolution, good conduct shall be rewarded with 20 to 25 days sentence reduction depending on how well PDLs abide by the rules and regulations and the length of their sentence.
“Kung susunod sila sa patarakan sa loob ng detention, mabibigyan sila ng 20 days na bawas sa araw ng sentensya kung isa hanggang dalawa ang imprisonment, 25 days naman kung tatlo hanggang limang taon. Ang nais ni Mayor Along ay mapabilis ang rehabilitasyon at ang pagresolba ng mga kaso para kaagad na makabalik sa lipunan ang mga PDLs natin (If they follow the rule in detention, the length of their sentence will be reduced by 20 days if the imprisonment term is one to two years and 25 days if the imprisonment term is three to five years. What Mayor Along wants is to speed up the rehabilitation and resolution of cases so that our PDLs can immediately return to society),” Tolentino said.
CADAO also introduced its upcoming activities, including a sports festival, medical, psychiatric evaluation, and HIV testing for its clients.