‘Set guidelines in the war on drugs’

Some Cebu City councilors want the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) to draft guidelines on how to properly implement the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign.

Instead of the barangays posting drug-free stickers on houses, Councilor Raymond Garcia favors the proposal of letting the families post the stickers themselves.

“It’s more of a proactive approach in doing the campaign and it’s right that the families should do it themselves,” he said.

Garcia, a lawyer, said the move will not shame anyone.

Barangay Ermita has start- ed posting drug-free stickers on houses last week.

However, CHR is asking all barangays to stop these activities as well as the hanging of tarpaulins outside households until a better anti-illegal drug campaign format is in place.

Councilor Joel Garganera, for his part, still favors the shame campaign initiated by Barangay Pajo in Lapu-Lapu City as long as the information they received were validated.

Garganera stressed the need to validate any information in order to avoid giving “moral injury” to the house owners.

“That’s a deterrent. It will prevent people from going to that area, and those who reside in that house will be more vigilant in doing illegal things because they’re being monitored,” Garganera said.

But for Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr., he said that even if the shame campaign will be done in the positive way, it should never be an option in the anti-illegal drug campaign.

Alcover believes that there is no substitute in educating the people on the ill-effects of using drugs.

As for the plan to place Tokhang boxes in the barangays, the councilors suggested that it should not focus on reporting alleged illegal drug personalities alone.

Councilor Eduardo Rama Jr. said it should also serve as a suggestion or complaint box where people can drop all their concerns. /