Flawed System Requires Changes
The Drug Dependency Evaluation (DDE) process in the Philippines, a mandatory requirement for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) who have served their sentences, has come under scrutiny due to its impact on the most vulnerable members of society. Critics argue that the process perpetuates suffering by imposing costly evaluations, delaying the release of PDLs, and raising questions about its legitimacy and utility.
According to Raymund Narag, the DDE lacks scientific rigor and raises concerns about its legitimacy. The evaluation process, which typically results in "mild" drug dependency classifications for 98% of cases, has been criticized as extortion under the guise of due process. This bureaucratic hurdle exploits financially deprived individuals, turning what should be a rehabilitative public service into a revenue-generating procedure.
The system's insistence on a DDE before release, despite legal clarity, reflects a system more concerned with procedure than people. This delay in release costs lives, dignity, and trust, as PDLs are forced to beg, borrow, and sacrifice to afford the DDE, which grants them their freedom.
Proposed reforms focus on removing the financial and procedural barriers inherent in the current system. Advocates call for eliminating fees for the DDE, especially for indigent PDLs, treating the evaluation as a public service rather than a paid prerequisite to release. They also advocate for reforming the evaluation process itself to incorporate scientifically validated assessments with proper medical or psychological expertise, aligning it with internationally recognized standards for addiction evaluation.
Furthermore, ensuring that release directives from the Supreme Court are faithfully implemented without bureaucratic delays or undue procedural requirements that contradict legal mandates is crucial. These reforms aim to reorient the DDE toward genuine rehabilitation and timely justice, centering on human dignity rather than administrative momentum or revenue considerations.
The overcrowding in jails, with congestion rates soaring above 250%, is a policy and system failure, and the DDE bottleneck is a contributing factor. Early evaluation of the DDE at the point of arrest is proposed as logical and humane, allowing for proper diversion and ensuring that those who need help receive it.
Justice should be a bridge to healing, dignity, and peace, rather than a toll booth. Narag highlights the efforts of judges, paralegals, and legal aides who defy the system's inertia with compassion and courage, but they should not be the exception. The system must institutionalize the spirit of these quiet heroes, making justice accessible, timely, and free from financial barriers.
In conclusion, reforming the DDE process is not just about efficiency but also about restoring humanity to the justice system. The DDE's perpetuation of suffering stems from imposed fees, questionable evaluation validity, and procedural delays, while reforms aim to democratize access, improve assessment quality, and uphold judicial directives for release.
- The debate surrounding the Drug Dependency Evaluation (DDE) in the Philippines has extended to the realm of general news, with critics pointing out its negative impact on the most vulnerable members of society.
- Despite legal clarity, the system persists in demanding a DDE before release, raising concerns about the legitimacy of this policy and its utility in addressing mental health and health-and-wellness issues.
- Scientific validity and medical or psychological expertise should be integrated into the DDE process, aligning it with internationally recognized standards for addiction evaluation.
- The perpetuation of the DDE's financial barriers is under scrutiny, particularly the imposition of fees for indigent Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs), as these fees delay their release and compromise their health-and-wellness, including mental health.
- The DDE's questionable legitimacy and its role in war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and accidents have brought attention to the need for policy-and-legislation reform to prioritize rehabilitation and human dignity over administrative momentum or revenue considerations.
- Early evaluation of the DDE at the point of arrest, enabling proper diversion and timely treatment, is proposed as a solution to address the overcrowding in jails and contribute to a just society that prioritizes healing, dignity, and peace.
