The country’s largest drug rehabilitation center, while capable of housing up thousands of addicts, cannot accept drug dependents with criminal records.

Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Ubial said there was a need to assess drug surrenderers to see if they can be transferred to the Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Fort Magsaysay.

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She explained that the facility in Nueva Ecija is not a traditional rehabilitation center since it was a prefabricated structure.

“Only those for voluntary rehab are qualified there. Drug dependents with criminal records cannot be accommodated there due to security issues,” she said on Friday.

A local court has the authority to order the transfer of a drug dependent to the Nueva Ecija facility.—JULIE M. AURELIO

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