Archdiocese in Philippines ties-up with gov’t for drug rehab program

Archbishop Antonio Ledesma  of Cagayan de Oro, Philippines said the archdiocese has joined a multisectoral group to help in preventing and treating drug abuse. He said that the archdiocese will collaborate with the government in providing a faith-based drug rehabilitation programme. 

He said the “Coalition for a Drug-free Society” was formed with the city government of Cagayan de Oro, the Department of Health, and various civil society groups.

The prelate added that the coalition has three main advocacies composed of prevention, intervention, and community support.

“So the Church will [take part in] the community support because we do not have the facilities for scientific rehabilitation,” Ledesma told Radio Veritas Tuesday.

“But we can give community support in terms of counseling, spiritual healing, and also making available our parish halls and formation centers,” he said.

The Jesuit archbishop has earlier called on the clergy to open their churches for the government’s drug recovery programs.

He, however, decried summary executions as a way of addressing the problem.

“We cannot solve a crime by committing another crime,” stressed Ledesma in a pastoral statement dated Aug. 4. (CBCP)