DILG drop box plan divides Cebu leaders
CEBU CITY – The Department of Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) plan to put up boxes where anonymous informants can drop the names of people allegedly involved in illegal drugs garnered support from top government officials but vilification from the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and church leaders.
While he has no problems with the plan, Mayor Tomas Osmeña nevertheless has warned the public to be wary about the “tip boxes.”
“Let them try it. All I am doing is trying to tell the people: Be careful. There are some barangay officials that are involved in drugs and they have CCTVs (closed-circuit television) all over. So, they might identify who will drop names in the boxes,” Osmeña told a news conference Thursday.
The mayor believes it is not as effective as installing posters in residences identifying them as drug-free or drug dens.
“I am not stopping them (DILG). I am just giving warning…the people on their safety,” he said.
Central Visayas police chief Jose Mario Espino finds nothing wrong with the tip boxes.
He said the strategy is similar to the DILG project launched in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, a month ago, in which “suggestion boxes” were placed at police stations.
“Our box there is not only confined to illegal drug information. It also solicits suggestions on how to improve the police stations … as well as those policemen being complained about,” Espino said.
He assured CHR that the information from DILG’s drop boxes will thoroughly verified before police take action.
DILG revealed the drop boxes program in an August 29 circular, saying it was part of its community-based “Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga” or MASA MASID.
“The MASA MASID project promotes community involvement to contribute in addressing the problems on corruption, illegal drugs, criminality, violent extremism and other threats to peace and security down to its sources,” the circular reads.
Earlier, CHR Central Visayas Chief Investigator Leo Villarino expressed concern about the plan, saying it can be prone to abuse by people who want to destroy their enemies’ reputation.
“The problem here is how to filter the information,” Villarino said in an earlier statement.
A number of church leaders also frown at the plan.