Fernandez calls for support against drugs

DAGUPAN CITY – Mayor Belen T. Fernandez appealed to all schools, universities and colleges  in the city to help the local government in its campaign to have a drug-free Dagupan City three days after she reconstituted the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC), with her as chairman, on July 29.

During the council’s first meeting on August 2 at CSI Stadia, Fernandez reiterated her position against extra-judicial killings perpetrated by the so-called Dagupan Death Squad or the Pangasinan Death Squad which already claimed the lives of 13 suspected drug peddlers/ users or runners in the city, including the lives of two students, Rowena Vergara Tiamson and Roman Clifford Fernandez Manaois.

“The sad thing about these summary executions is the fact that the two students are dead. One is a member of the choir and the other a sacristan. This should not happen. What is happening now is that we do not have knowledge on who is doing these abusive acts. Ang sinasabi nila baka inuunahan na ng mga drug pushers yung kanilang mga runners,” said Fernandez as she assured that the summary executions were not the doings of the PNP.

Fernandez disclosed that from day one of her administration, she launched the anti-drug textline to encourage everyone to help the city in its campaign against illegal drugs including the installation of a Rehab Desk at the City Action Service Team office to help drug dependents, especially indigents, undergo drug rehabilitation under strict confidentiality for free.

“The anti-drug textline has proven to be very effective in putting to jail more than 500 drug personalities since its launching and it is so unfair that while we are doing our job through legal means, somebody out there is taking advantage of the situation and making it appear that somehow we should be blamed for what is happening to the detriment of the city,” said Fernandez.

Fernandez said that some of the parents of drug dependents admit that their children were influenced by their friends or "barkadas" until they become addicted to it.   

“This is what we do not want to happen. The reason for calling this meeting is because we need your support," she said Fernandez. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO)