Automatic rehabilitation of apprehended drug dependents pushed

A lawmaker has filed a bill institutionalizing the automatic rehabilitation and

treatment of arrested and jailed drug-dependent criminals.
Rep. Samuel Pagdilao (Party-list A!"-!#S$ said %ouse &ill ''() aims to e*uip the
go+ernment with a tool that will pro+ide offenders easy and fast access to drug
rehabilitation and treatment in order to free them from the control and bondage of
substance abuse which caused them to commit crimes.
,Among the many problems that threaten our society is drug addiction. #t is
considered one of the e+ils of today-s society that affects not only the peace and order in
our country but also destroys the physical and moral well-being of our people. Pagdilao
said.
Pagdilao said despite efforts of +arious law enforcement agencies to curb this
problem illegal drug acti+ities seem to escalate and so too are drug-related crimes.
According to Pagdilao there are two dominant +iews on drug addiction and how it
should be handled.
"he first he said is that drug addiction is a disease like any other and should be
tackled through treatment and pre+ention. /n the other hand drug use is a crime and
should be dealt with through the array of threats and sanctions a+ailable through the
criminal justice system.
,#t is clear that the latter approach has dominated the way our 0o+ernment handled
drug addiction. %owe+er it is clear that threats and sanctions do not effecti+ely stop the
problem against drugs. #t does not cure the underlying cause of drug addiction. Pagdilao
stressed.
Pagdilao pointed out that as a result drug dependent offenders ha+e increasingly
populated jails and prisons. !rimes in+ol+ing illegal drugs ha+e also risen.
,#t is about time that the first approach be gi+en an e*ual opportunity to address the
problem of illegal drugs. Pagdilao said.
1nder the measure Section )( of Republic Act 2)3( or the ,!omprehensi+e
4angerous 4rugs Act of 5665. is amended by inserting Section )(-A which pro+ides that
a person apprehended or arrested for use of dangerous drugs and who immediately after
arrest confesses7admits to the use of drugs shall be subjected to automatic rehabilitation
for a minimum period of 3 months in a rehabilitation center duly accredited by the &oard.
NR # 3498B
JUNE 15, 2014
"he rehabilitation center shall be re*uired to submit monthly reports to the &oard
on the progress of rehabilitation7treatment. !osts for the rehabilitation and treatment shall
be shouldered by the arrested or apprehended person.
"he bill also inserts Section 8(-A under Section 8( which states that persons
apprehended or arrested for +iolation of any pro+ision of this Act who are found to be
drug dependents are to be subjected to treatment and rehabilitation while inside the jail
and correctional facilities.
Pagdilao said the 4epartment of %ealth (4/%$ and the 4epartment of #nterior and
9ocal 0o+ernment (4#90$ in coordination with the &oard and the !ourts are mandated
to come up with specific guidelines on how the said rehabilitation and treatment of drug
dependence should be undertaken. (86) lvc