Pubdate: Sun, 21 Nov 2004 Source: Sunstar Pangasinan (Philippines) Copyright: 2004 Sunstar Contact: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pangasinan/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1726 Author: Dino R. Zabala Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?135 (Drug Education) POLICE BRIEF STUDENTS ON DRUGS DAGUPAN -- City Police Chief Candito B. Quijardo said Saturday they are really serious in the campaign against illegal drugs and there shall never be any let up in their task to once and for all stop this intolerable menace. During a symposium held with the students of the Dagupan City National High School-Barangay Carael Annex last Thursday, Quijardo briefed the students how illegal drugs could destroy their futures once they get involved in this particular vice, which is now one of the primary causes of various forms of criminality. He appealed to the students not to waste their opportunities to attain education, which could give them their bright future. "I also appeal to you (students) not to get carried away with your friends who are users of illegal drugs, and please do not ever taste it. I am also advising you not to indulge in drinking liquor or even cigarette smoking, because these vices will only affect you physically and mentally," the police chief said. Quijarod said as the city's police chief, his desire and hope is for each and every one of the students to be successful professionals in the future, and not successful drug users nor drug pushers. He advised the students that if they ever got involved in using illegal drugs, there would only be two places for them to land, which is either behind prison bars or at the mental hospital. Quijardo also asked the students to get rid of or better report to them some outsiders trying to lure and offering them to use illegal drugs, may be it in form of shabu or dried marijuana leaves. "At first they would entice you to try and taste these illegal drugs for just an experience. But later on without knowing, you are already hooked into it, and that would already be the beginning of the destruction of your future and even your entire life," he pointed out. Aside from illegal drugs, Quijardo told the students to refrain from even taking un-prescribed cough syrups, as well as the sniffing of rugby and solvents, in as much as these too are addictive and could affect their health. "I ask you to report to us or even to your barangay and school officials anyone whom you know are drug users, pushers or drug peddlers, in order that these people could still be rehabilitated (for users) or be punished for their illegal activities. "Please report to the police or even to your principal whom you know among your classmates who are carrying along with them prohibited drugs especially inside the school premises," Quijardo appealed. Quijardo was with his fellow police officials Chief Insp. Paquito Navarette, his deputy who also lectured the students on prohibited drugs; Senior Insp. Nilda Cabural, head of the Women and Children Concerns Desk who discussed about women and child abuse; and PNP-Swat member Joey Daroy who gave lecture on crisis management during the symposium. - ---