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The Youth:
Ready to Fight Narco-Politics
DURING THE
first forum of Samahan para sa Katotohanan at Kinabukasan (Katotohanan),
a newly-formed coalition of civil society groups against narco-politics,
last September 9, the youth and students showed their eagerness
to join the moves to prevent the Philippines form becoming a society
run by drug lords.
Like all other
participants of the forum from other sectors, the 48 youth participants
formed study groups, thoroughly discussed the issue and exchanged
ideas. The participants were from the Ateneo de Manila University,
Miriam College, Angelicum College and Don Bosco College among
other schools.
Cristina
Joyce F. Tanseco, a student of the Ateneo de Manila University
and vice president of the Union of Catholic Student Councils cheerfully
led discussions in the youth and student sectors.
In a conversation
with Tinig.com, she stressed on the need to let the youth know
of the danger of narco-politics.
"There's
a need to educate our peers. And tell them that there's a threat...
We really need to make everyone aware so andyan 'yung info dissemination,
there's a need to mobilize them…" said the ADMU student
leader.
She also invited
Tinig.com to join in an educational discussion scheduled to be
held September 14 at the Natinal youth Commission buiding. That
ED, she said, is also part of the youth's involvement in the anti-narco-politics
campaign.
During the
Katotohanan forum, National Drug Law Enforcement and prevention
Coordinating Center executive director Gen. Miguel Coronel presented
disturbing facts about the extent of the drug menace among the
youth in the country. According
to him, there are 1.8 million users today, 1.2 million of these
belong to the youth sector.
Coronel also
whole process of the drug business, as well its ill-effect on
the economy and the society in general. At the same time, he presented
a wholistic approach to combat the drug problem.
Fr. Carmelo
Caluag, SJ,one of the convenors of Katotohanan, said , "If
there is one most important goal of Katotohanan, it is to protect
the future of our country and the people most especially the youth,
who will be the victims, in the end, of drug trafficking, of a
narco-state, and of organized crime. And I think you and I have
the moral obligation to protect the future for our young people
and this is what this fight is all about."
Good for Katotohanan
and its ideals, the youth seems more than willing to join in the
fight. (Tinig.com)
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For more information about the anti-narco-politics campaign,
read the article, "To
protect the future of country and people: Civil society groups
organize against narco-politics" published 14 September
2001 in CyberDyaryo
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