FORMER Senator Panfilo Lacson emphasized the need for the Philippine National Police to take on not just the role of enforcers against illegal drugs, but also as educators, guiding youths away from the menace of drugs.

Lacson suggested this approach be similar to the Philippine Drug Abuse Resistance Education (PhilDARE) program he implemented as PNP chief during the Estrada administration.

“We can train our police to work closely with the community, teachers, and schools. They can explain to our youth the reasons for staying away from illegal drugs,” Lacson said.

In the 1990s, the Philippines adopted the Los Angeles Police Department’s Drug Abuse Resistance Education program as PhilDARE. This educational initiative aimed to prevent drug use among youth by promoting awareness of its harmful effects and teaching resistance to peer pressure.

Lacson stated that PhilDARE played a key role in the government’s two-pronged strategy against illegal drugs: reducing demand through educational efforts and reducing supply through law enforcement.

“The results were very positive. Our teacher-policemen became closer to the youth, and our police personnel grew closer to the community,” Lacson said. “Our youths learned to stay away from drugs.”