DAVAO CITY (April 1) —- Malacañang on Friday, said the government is always ready to extend rehabilitation help to celebrities named in the narcolist.
Chief Presidential Legal Counsel and Presidential Spokesperson Salvador S. Panelo relayed this to Palace reporters in a press briefing, saying the government has the means to help in rehabilitating these people.
“Certainly [the government will help them be rehabilitated]. Mayroon tayong mga rehabilitation centers,” Secretary Panelo said.
“Well, the help will be extended to them if they ask for it and are willing to rehabilitate themselves,” he added.
According to Panelo, the government is doing a two-pronged approach in dealing with the drug industry in the country.
“One is to dismantle apparatus and number two is to rehabilitate those who have been addicted to the same,” he said.
While ready to give help anytime, the government will not slack off against those involved in drug trade just because they are celebrities, Panelo assured.
The Palace official underscored that the President is adamant in halting the illegal industry, and will go extra mile just to fulfill this campaign promise, including going after these celebrities.
“The message [of the President] is of course you should not be involved. You have to rehabilitate yourself. You cannot be doing that because you are destroying your own self,” Panelo said.
“Definitely [serve as warning] because if they will not warn themselves about their involvement certainly it will be destructive of their own health, family, and certainly they will be losing their adoring fans,” he added.
Panelo, meanwhile, addressed queries whether or not the Chief Executive should release publicly the name of those involved celebrities in drug trade.
For the President’s spokesperson, the discretion is with the President and all factors should be weighed before releasing such list.
“I guess the President will have to determine whether or not to direct the release of the personalities named therein,” he said.-NewsLIne.ph
