26/10/2025
In a rare and extraordinary occasion, the Judiciary from the Second Judicial Region, the Department of Justice - National Prosecution Service (DOJ-NPS), Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), Department of Justice - Parole and Probation Administration (DOJ-PPA), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Department of Social Welfare and Development - Cagayan Valley Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (DSWD - CVRRCY), from Region 02, converge together for the Inter-Agency Stakeholder’s Forum and Consultative Meeting on Treatment and Rehabilitation of Persons Who use Drugs (PWUDs) on October 22 – 24, 2025 at Tuguegarao City, Cagayan.
Honorable Regional Trial Court Judges, PAO Lawyers, Prosecutors, Clerks of Courts, representatives from DDB, PPA, PDEA, PNP, BJMP, and DSWD-CVRRCY from region 02 gathered for the 3-day Inter-Agency Stakeholder’s Forum and Consultative Meeting, to discuss policy directions, address legitimate issues, and align processes relative to the treatment and rehabilitation of Persons who use Drugs (PWUDs).
Spearheaded by the Department of Health Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DOH TRC) Region 02, through the support and assistance of the Dangerous Drugs Board, the Inter-Agency Stakeholder’s Forum and Consultative Meeting was conducted to forge a more harmonious relationship primarily with the Judiciary and other partner agencies in the continuous discharge of their respective legal mandates, while harmonizing the processes of the treatment and rehabilitation of PWUDs in order to ensure uniform and smoother delivery of programs and services.
Ms. Aileen S. Tablit, Supervising Administrative Officer, acknowledged the participants from the different partner-agencies. She also took the opportunity to personally welcome everyone who attended the activity.
In her welcome remarks, Dr. Charity I. Canapi, Chief of Hospital III, expressed her gratitude and appreciation to all partner-agencies which took their time to attend the activity. She also emphasized the significance of the forum and hoped that the activity would afford the participants a better understanding on the nature of treatment and rehabilitation through the discussions of the policies and protocols governing them. Dr. Canapi also recognized that the forum is a great opportunity to discuss and thresh out the mostly encountered legal issues with the Judiciary and address them properly, while soliciting clarifications from the Philippine Judicial Academy, and DDB, to shed light on the gray areas of the law.
The forum was graced by DOH Undersecretary Glenn Mathew G. Baggao, Universal Health Care-Health Services Cluster (UHC HSC) Cluster Lead for Northern, Central, and Southern Luzon. He maintained that the success of rehabilitation depends on the collective efforts of the justice system, local government units, health professionals and community advocates all working toward one goal, to restore lives, rebuild families, and reintegrate recovering individuals into society. He further expressed that when we heal one person, we heal one family, and when we heal one family, we help build a stronger nation, dahil sa Bagong Pilipinas Bawa’t Buhay Mahalaga.
Cagayan Valley Center for Health Development (CVCHD) Regional Director Ferdinand M. Benbenen, assured all partner agencies that DOH CVCHD values the partnership that upholds public health, human rights, and social integration as integral pillars of public health. He further stated that the forum is one of the foundations to our shared vision of strengthening collaboration among health, justice, and law enforcement sectors to deliver a humane and evidenced-based approach to drug dependence.
As one of the most steadfast partner-agencies of DOH TRC Region 02, Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Assistant Secretary Ma. Victoria C. Sorne, emphasized that the governments strengthened campaign to curb illegal drugs will only succeed if it is carried out in various fronts, with the need to set forth a comprehensive and balanced approach to drug demands and drug supply reduction. She continued, that the intersection of various fields – treatment, rehabilitation and judicial oversight sustains a partnership based on shared goals to ensure that each individual receives both the legal support and the compassionate care they need. Today partner agencies convene under a shared commitment to improve outcomes for PWUDs in our judicial system and treatment facilities. The intersection of justice and rehabilitation is the synergy of the efforts that will lead to a more unified balanced strategy.
Finally, Court Administrator Ma. Theresa Dolores Gomez-Esteosta, together with Supreme Court and Philippine Judiciary, extended her profound gratitude to DOH TRC Region 02 for spearheading the Inter-Agency Stakeholder’s Forum and Consultative Meeting on Treatment and Rehabilitation of Persons Who use Drugs (PWUDs), stating that the work of the center is both urgent and vital, and the unwavering dedication to improving treatment and rehabilitation services is not only commendable but transformative. She continued, that in cases involving persons who use drugs the Judiciary is not merely adjudicating offenses, but in many instances confronting lives, caught in cycles of trauma, poverty, and despair. The Court Administrator admitted that the Judiciary cannot do this alone, neither can the Department of Health, but together through sustained collaboration, we can shape a more responsive and holistic system of care, rehabilitation, and justice. She closed her message by saying that every case filed represents a human life and everytime we choose to extend empathy along with enforcement, everytime we choose rehabilitation over mere retribution, we build justice system that restores not just order but hope.
The forum and meeting formally opened through an audio-visual presentation on the Brief Overview of Treatment and Rehabilitation Programs of DPOH TRC Region 02. This was followed by a discussion on the Inpatient Rehabilitation Program by Dr. Kristelrose M. Tallud, Medical Officer III.
The main topic on the first day of the forum is a detailed discussion on Laws related to Drug Abuse, Treatment, and Rehabilitation by Attorney John Elijah B. Banez, Deputy Chief Legal Division, DDB. The speaker delved on the salient portions of RA 9165 and cited relevant DDB Board regulations relative to treatment and rehabilitation.
Court of Appeals Justice Raymond Reynold R. Lauigan, provided a comprehensive discussion on the Plea Bargaining Framework on Drug Cases, on the second day of the forum. The esteemed speaker presented the relevant Supreme Court guidelines, including relevant jurisprudence on the subject matter.
The afternoon session covered the topics on Situationer Report and Science of Addiction, presented by Dr. Antonio R. Urata, Jr. Medical Specialist II, and Statistics and Analysis by Mr. Floro A. Orata, Chief Health Program Officer.
Discussion on Outpatient Rehabilitation Program, and Aftercare Rehabilitation Program followed, which was discussed by Dr. April John B. Aggabao, Medical Officer III, and Ms. Cheeni M. San Pedro, Social Welfare Officer III, respectively.
Finally, Attorney Abigail M. Ancheta, Legal Officer, lead the consultative meeting where the frequently encountered legal issues with the judiciary was discussed and addressed properly. Agreements were noted for the information of the Judiciary and other partner agencies.
To complete the understanding of the participants relative to the programs and services of the center, a Facility Tour at DOH TRC Region 02, Centro San Antonio, City of Ilagan, Isabela, was scheduled and arranged on the third and last day of the forum.
After the facility tour and to formally end the three-day activity, the partner-agencies congratulated DOH TRC Region 02 for the success of the activity and for taking the initiative to conduct a Forum and Consultative Meeting, where all partner agencies in the treatment and rehabilitation of PWUDs are united in one common goal – to improve the programs and services in the treatment and rehabilitation of PWUDs. They also expressed their gratitude to the leadership of Dr. Charity I. Canapi, for the opportunity to learn further about the treatment and rehabilitation programs of the center, and for opening its doors to the stakeholders whose roles are both significant and integral in the treatment and rehabilitation of PWUDs.
With more than 150 participants in attendance from the Judiciary and various partner agencies in Region 02, and through the able leadership of Dr. Charity I. Canapi, Chief of Hospital III, the three-day Inter-Agency Stakeholder’s Forum and Consultative Meeting on Treatment and Rehabilitation of Persons Who use Drugs (PWUDs), was groundbreaking and is one of the greatest milestones of DOH TRC Region 02 to date, as it gathered all stakeholders in one event that is dedicated for the benefit of Persons who use Drugs (PWUDs), and the improvement of the programs and services of the center.
With the support and technical assistance of the DDB, this initiative was made possible and is a testament of shared commitment of the partner-agencies in reforming the community and the improvement of public service.
