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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Alan Cayetano: Rehabilitated addicts effective teachers on pitfalls of illegal drug use

Alan Cayetano: Rehabilitated addicts effective teachers on pitfalls of illegal drug use

Published Oct 28, 2022 03:48 pm

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano said rehabilitated drug users are the best and effective “witnesses and teachers” against substance abuse as they have valuable lessons to teach the country’s youth on how to avoid falling into drug addiction.

Cayetano’s remark was made during his visit at the Department of Health (DOH) Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Camp Bagong Diwa, City of Taguig earlier this week.

“Kayo ang magiging pinaka-credible na witness laban sa droga at y'ung effectiveness ng facility na ito sa iba nating mga kababayan (You are the most credible witness against drugs and the effectiveness of this facility to our people),” Cayetano said of the rehabilitation center.

“Kayo po ang mga future na paglabas dito ang magiging witness at teacher sa kabataan na huwag bibigay sa pressures ng mundong ito (You are the future hope that once you move out of this facility you would be the witnesses and teachers to our youth not to give in to the pressures of this world),” he added.

Cayetano and his wife Taguig Mayor Lani Cayetano, together with Taguig 1st District Rep. Ricardo "Ading" Cruz, came to the drug treatment facility in the city's Bicutan district to distribute food and hygiene packs to patients as part of the senator’s birthday week celebration.

The Cayetanos also renewed their commitment to improve the drug treatment facility. The senator said the planned improvements will be ironed out with hospital administrators and officials from the DOH and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

The facility has a patient capacity of 3,000. The DOH Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Camp Bagong Diwa is considered the largest drug treatment facility in the Philippines.

The lawmaker also reminded rehab patients that they can still fully integrate back into their families and society, and that their past addiction should not prevent them from improving their lives once they come out of treatment.

"Ang tao po, nasa nature po natin na minsan maging marupok o minsan po magkasala. So, nagkamali kayo sa choices niyo kaya kayo nandito sa rehab. Pero lahat naman po tayo nagkakamali sa choices natin. So huwag kayo magfo-focus sa pagkakamali (As humans, it's in our nature to sometimes be fragile or sometimes to sin. So, you made a mistake in your choices that's why you're here in rehab. But we all make mistakes in our choices. So don't focus on the mistake),” he said.

“Let's focus on the redemptive side,” Cayetano stressed.

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