QUEZON CITY, Philippines – To help in the enormous task of rehabilitating drug dependents in the country, two big faith-based groups committed their help and support to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) program for drug surrenderees through a proposed values formation program for the spiritual nourishment of victims of illegal drugs.
Officers of the Jesus is Lord (JIL) Movement and the Philippines for Jesus Movement (PJM), an umbrella coalition of 3,000 churches all over the Philippines, paid a courtesy call recently to DILG Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueno at the DILG Central Office in Quezon City to express their willingness to lend a hand in the government’s program to help change the lives of victims of illegal drugs.
The group said they supported President Rodrigo Duterte in the last election and acknowledged that Duterte is the first President who waged war against narco-politics. “Gusto naming magtagumpay ang presidency na ito. Lalo na ngayong may mga critics na nagpapahayag na hindi ito tatagal dahil sa walang tigil na patayan. We do not want the President to fail because the failure of the government is tantamount to our failure as a church because we voted for him in the last election. The President cannot do it alone,” they added.
Sueno expressed his gratitude to the group’s visit and their offering of help to the government. He said rehabilitation is one of the areas where churches and other faith-based groups can help the government in transforming the lives of drug surrenderees. “Ang ilegal na droga ay sakit ng buong lipunan kaya kailangan natin ang suporta ng lahat ng sektor para sugpuin ito. Malaki ang maitutulong ninyo sa ating rehabilitation program para sa mga drug surrenderees,” he told his visitors.
The JIL and PYM are among the faith-based groups, people’s organizations and other sectoral groups which have thrown their support behind the DILG’s program for rehabilitation and reintegration to society of drug surrenderees. Earlier, bishops and priests who are part of the Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbahan (UBAS) also expressed their willingness to help by marshalling People’s Watch (Masa Masid) to help cleanse the government of corruption. For his part, JIL head pastor Bro. Eddie Villanueva said: “We passionately love God and our country. We want to be the base support of the administration by silently helping and coordinating with the local chief executives for the spiritual nourishment of surrenderees.”
Villanueva said they believe in the capacity of Sec. Sueno to handle the enormous task as DILG Secretary because of his gentle heart governed by love and understanding just like the heart of Jesus Christ. “Our members believe that Sec. Sueno was anointed by God to be in this DILG position. Promotion does not come from the East or West or North or South, it comes from God. And we know that Sec. Sueno has a gentle heart to balance the strong personalities of President Duterte and PNP Chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa,” he noted. Towards the end of the meeting, the group prayed over Sec. Sueno and the DILG leadership and personnel for the success of the Department’s programs and projects.
More faith-based groups back DILG program for drug surrenderees
