Five Commandments For a Drug-Free Philippines

DRUGS AND CRIMES

The Filipino people do not have to die fighting drug peddlers or having them killed. We do not have to raid shabu laboratories or uproot marijuana plants as these are things better left to our law enforcement officers.

There are five things every Filipino could do in contributing the vision of a Drug Free Philippines. We do not have to perform spectacular feats by killing the drug peddlers and its boss, we just have to do these five things:

1. BE DRUG FREE.

A Drug Free Philippines begins with YOU. It begins with a single person. It is ironical that there are drug users who justify their continued drug dependence just because there are still drug sellers. That is a very stupid excuse, yet it is the reason why drug use continues.

The biggest battle in drugs is for a person to stop using drugs or making Filipinos not to use drugs. In fact, the only person a person has control and influence is himself/herself. Before he could convince other people not to use drugs, he/she must be drug free.

If you are not a drug user, then you are part of the solution, but if you are one of the million drug user of the country, then you are part of the problem. Let us be part of the solution, let us be Drug Free.

2. STRENGTHEN YOUR FAMILY.

The smallest unit in the country is the family, the battle against illegal drugs is not in the street but in our very homes. The duty of every father and mother is make his/her family drug free.

But is it not a common scenario that public officials who often criticize the law enforcement efforts against drugs are the very people whose family members are victims of the drug trade?

It is undeniable that there are Mayors, Barangay Captains, Congressmen and Palace Officials whose family members have fallen victims of the drug use. Is it not stupid or hypocritical for them to complain of the country’s drug problem when they themselves could not protect their family from drug use?

The most important position a person possess is not him/her being an elected or appointed public official or being a manager or chief executive of a multinational company, in the end the most sacred position, is his/her being a PARENT.

The most sacred duty therefore is to strengthen and protect the family from drug use. Let us not blame our law enforcement agencies if our children have become drug users, when you yourself could not even guard and protect your children from the drug use. Just focus on your children, let it be your career mission and making your family free from drugs.

3. DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO BECOME A CO-DEPENDENT.

A Co-Dependent is a person who does not use drugs, but his actions and attitudes makes the drug user continue to use drugs. An example is a father who just gives money to his son who pester him, knowing that the money will be used to buy drugs.

A father who redeems the tire or other household appliances his drug user son pawns in a well-known second hand store who buys stolen items.

We need FATHERS and MOTHERS and other family members to stand up against the drug dependency of their family member who has fallen into drug use. We need to have the courage to admit the fact of the dependency of their children instead of blaming everyone especially the law enforcement agencies. We need them to have the strength of having their children undergo drug rehabilitation.

4. VERBALIZE AND PUT INTO ACTION YOUR STAND AGAINST DRUGS.

Everyone, even the drug users admit that drug use is wrong, yet they do not have the courage to stand up and say that drug use is really wrong. There are 91 million Filipinos yet only very few speak and stand up against drugs. It is not enough to say that you are against drugs but you have to put into action your stand against drugs.

Every year the country observes the Drug Abuse Prevention Week, this is every second week of November. Yet parents whose children are hooked on drugs refuse to speak in public that they are against drugs. They refuse to attend gatherings or rallies against drugs, saying that these are better left to our law enforcement officers. This is the attitude that makes the drug lords seemingly indestructible. It is the reluctance of the civilians to say and show that they are against drugs that makes us lose the war.

Make yourself be counted, join and attend the observance of the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Month. It is frustrating that people pays, sweats and give time to attend concerts or to watch their favorite singers or actors. Yet they do not have the zeal to attend Anti-Drug Rallies.

They fight and are willing to die for their political candidates, our country is in fact divided on political affiliations, yet they do not have the energy and enthusiasm to fight against drugs.

5. BE A HERO.

Today’s hero do not have to die as a martyr, a hero fights illegal drugs by simply making himself/herself drug free. A hero is a father/mother who ensures that his/her family will not fall victims on the drug use.

A Hero is one who proudly and courageously says to his/her neighbors that he is against drugs. All these are things an ordinary citizen is capable of doing, no need for firearms, no need for positions in government, just make yourself free from drugs and we are one inch closer in winning the war.

Let us then start by sharing this commandment to a friend, relative or neighbor. Let every Filipino know that he/she could do these simple things in achieving the vision of a Drug Free Philippines.

(This column is in honor of my father, Engr. Pablo B. Oaminal, who died last June 25, 2014. He always believed in my advocacy in the vision of making the Philippines Drug Free).

About the Author: Clarence Paul V. Oaminal is a lawyer and author of ‘The Textbook on The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002’. He is the Vice-chairman and Undersecretary of the Dangerous Drugs Board and is the current adviser and presiding officer of Cebu City Anti-Drug Abuse Council. He also hosts the local advocacy program ‘Krimen ug Drugas’ in CCTN Channel 47.