Cebu barangay shame tactic vilified, lauded
LAPU-LAPU CITY – The shame campaign launched Monday by Pajo Barangay Captain Junard Chan got mixed reactions from human rights investigators and government and police officials in Cebu.
Barangay officials spray-painted at least four doors of an apartment in Barangay Pajo in this city with the message “Identified Drug Den Area” following reports that the apartment units were frequented by drug users.
Former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim also painted similar signs on the houses of suspected criminals in the 1990s until the Supreme Court stopped the practice, declaring it unconstitutional.
A day after the apartment was spray-painted, at least 92 drug users and dealers surrendered to the authorities, Chan said.
He said the surrenderers will undergo spiritual intervention, psychological counseling and given livelihood assistance by the barangay.
But Arvin Odron of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) in Central Visayas was “alarmed” and called for a halt to the campaign.
“We do not have the authority to direct the police but we are asking them to stop it because we have to talk about the parameters first. The government, before initiating programs, shall incorporate human rights principles and standards,” Odron said.
The commission is not against government efforts to fight illegal drugs, Odron said, and only wants to make sure that human rights are upheld.
Yesterday afternoon, CHR sent out investigators to the area to find out if there were human rights violations committed by local authorities.
Odron said he had asked the Human Rights Affairs Office of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the region to review the program “since Lapu-Lapu City Police Office Director Senior Supt. Rommel Cabagnot assisted the local government official” during the launching.
“We were alarmed because the police supported the campaign. I don’t know if they are familiar with human rights-based policing, which states that in every enforcement of the law, they should integrate it with human rights standards,” he added.
He said the commission will also check if the barangay has an ordinance allowing the barangay captain to carry out such a campaign.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza backs the village’s campaign “for as long as they don’t violate any human rights.”
Police Regional Office Director Chief Supt. Jose Mario Espino has a similar view.
“We look at it both ways. There are advantages and disadvantages. We just have to make sure that initiatives like this will not violate human rights,” Espino said.
Espino said that once CHR finds anything irregular in the implementation of the campaign, he “will direct Cabagnot to stop and look for some other initiative.”
Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera said he is for the campaign, but urged the barangay officials and the police to verify if the information passed on to them is factual.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak, who also chairs the Committee on Public Order and Safety said the shame campaign is not the right way to address the illegal drug problem since pranksters might paint a copy of the sign on someone’s house.
Tumulak said the campaign will not be adopted in Cebu City.