Dolphy’s son warns drug users: Change your ways, spare yourselves from Bilibid

Rodolfo Quizon, Jr. performs at the anniversary event for Bahay Pagbabago in Dinalupihan, Bataan on November 21, 2019. It was attended by ICAD co-chairs Vice President Leni Robredo and PDEA chief Aaron Aquino. Photo: OVP

DINALUPIHAN, Bataan — Change your ways now so you don’t end up in Bilibid prison.

Former notorious drug user Rodolfo Quizon, Jr.—son of the late legendary actor Rodolfo "Dolphy" Vera Quizon—had this to say to the 957 reformists or former drug dependents who graduated from a 30-day rehabilitation program here on Thursday.

The program, initiated by the local government and faith-based organizations, celebrated its third anniversary at an event attended by Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs co-chairs Vice President Leni Robredo and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief Aaron Aquino.

High on money, drugs

Quizon told his cautionary tale of a life candidly, from witnessing his parents bickering all the time, to his mother attempting to take her life, to living in slums when he was young, to getting a big break as an actor, and having everything—only to end up a drug addict and a convict before finding a new lease on life because of a renewed faith in God.

“Nung may pera na ako, dumami na barkada, bisyo. Sigarilyo, drug, alak, babae. Lahat ng drugs natikman ko na. Di ko nga alam eh. Hindi ka naman makatulog. Matignan ka [ng ibang tao], tingin mo papatayin ka. Sinisira [mo] ‘yung appliances,” Rodolfo said.

“Una ko, heroin. Una, nagsuka ako, pero nasanay na. Una sa yosi, tapos [pinadaan na] sa ilong. I used to take 30 packs of heroin a day. Nung napansin ko na nag-iba na ang mukha ko at ayaw kong makita ako ng Mommy ko na ganoon, naghanap na ako ng syringe,” he added.

It only got worse  for him from that point, as he was convicted of arson with a multiple homicide charge—a crime he was charged of, he said, not because he was guilty but because of his reputation as a drug addict.

He was sentenced to 40 years in prison, at a time when his son was only four months old. He said the drug trade in New Bilibid Prison is so rampant that it is a way of life, especially for moneyed inmates.

“Grabe po sa Bilibid.  Basta po may pera. Alak, babae, lahat andun. Drugs? Wow. Parang palengke. Shabu. Tuwing Monday, pinapautang [ang shabu]. Sunday ang bayad. Hello! Parang kakanin lang,” Rodolfo said, drawing laughs from the crowd.

“Masahol pa sa laya eh. Kasi paano ka mahuhuli? Nakakulong ka na? Walang huli. May guwardiya ka pa. Mga gwardiya roon, mas adik pa sa amin eh. Kaya po kayo, huwag niyo na hangarin pang makarating roon,” Rodolfo added. At this point, no one was laughing.

Not all is lost, however, as he chanced upon Jesus Is Lord Movement’s leader Eddie Villanueva preaching about the Bible while watching television in prison and discussing how much love God can give, regardless if you are a sinner.

Quizon is now a preacher. Photo: OVP

Plot twist

Just when he thought that the light was finally coming into his life, his wife visited him in prison to tell him that she was leaving him for another man—a cross that he had to carry pending his release.

He even found a knife on his son who visited him in prison once, and learned that his son wanted to kill his mother and his mother’s lover out of deep hatred.

“Bakit naman po ganun, kung kailan nakilala ko ang Diyos, ganito naman. Ang anak ko po, nagsusumbong, may kasama na raw Mommy niya, pulis, colonel. Pero parang wala po akong naririnig, kasi magtatapos pa po siya [ng pag-aaral],” Rodolfo said.

“Nagalit ako na nakita ko may balisong siya,  ang sabi niya papatayin raw niya nanay niya saka ang lalaki. Sabi ko, anak, huwag, lalaya pa ako rito, magtiwala tayo sa Panginoon,” he added.

Rodolfo was pardoned by then-President Joseph Estrada on September 28, 1998 after serving 18 years in prison. Since then, he has become a preacher and has never gone back to his old ways.

“Akala ko po, hindi na ako lalaya. Salamat sa Panginoon. Hindi po ako nag-pi-preach ng kahit anong religion. Ang sinasabi ko lang po, kailangan magkaroon tayo ng relasyon sa Panginoon,” Rodolfo pointed out.

“Kaya ang tawag ko sa inyo [na reformists], hindi surrenderers. Transformers,” he added.

Quizon's story is not so different from those of the graduates of the community-based program, who shared their stories of being drawn to illegal drugs due to problematic households, with one of them being forced to live in a pigpen with his wife for three years because his family did not approve of their marriage.

And just like Rodolfo’s transformation, Dinalupihan Mayor Angela Garcia said, they were able to quit drugs thanks to simple things: faith, as well as family and community support.

“Ang 30 days po [sa Bahay Pagbabago], hindi complex. Hindi po ito masyadong siyensiya eh. Ito ay tungkol sa pagiging anak ng Diyos, pagiging [mabuting] mamamayan ng ating bayan, kung paano tayo sa ating pamilya,” Garcia said.

“Dapat lang po makilala nila ang kanilang sarili at ilapit ang sarili nila sa Diyos, para mapahalagahan po nila ang kanilang sarili at pamilya. Kasi ang droga po, problema po ito ng lipunan eh, kaya dapat kabahagi po tayo lahat sa paghahanap ng solusyon.” — BM, GMA News