Shame campaign
IDENTIFIED DRUG DEN.
These are the words that get sprayed on the house of a resident in Barangay Pajo, LapuLapu City with proven links to illegal drugs. And, yes, the words are all in bold letters.
Yesterday, barangay officials sprayed the words on the boarding house owned by a certain Rodolfo Larino in Sitio Kamanggahan II, which is said to be a drug den.
Pajo captain Junard “Ahong” Chan said Larino has been arrested in the past for his involvement in illegal drugs.
"We conducted this kind of campaign in our barangay because we noticed that monitoring of illegal drugs and drug den and police arrests are not enough to stop them from their bad ways. We hope that this shame campaign will have a domino effect to other areas," Chan said.
Last week, Larino reportedly denied he went back to the illegal drug trade and that his tenants at the boarding house are the ones who allegedly use shabu.
"Wala na siyay control kay ang mga mosud kay ang mga mo-renta kay sulod-gawas. Ang uban wala namayad nya maoy nangubra sa pagpasuyop ang mga nangabang, P10 pesos per head ang bayad," Chan said.
However, because Larino owns the place, he, too, is liable.
"Wa ma'y laing paagi kay siya man liable ani," Chan said.
The decision to label a house will depend on information generated by the Barangay Intelligence Network (BIN). There are reportedly more than 100 drug users identified in the barangay.
"If positive nga naay drug den, spray-han nasad nato ilahang mga balay pinaagi sa shame campaign," Chan said.
After they labeled Larino's house as an “identified drug den,” at least nine women surrendered to authorities on the spot, something that Chan believes is proof the campaign is working. He even urged other barangays to follow suit.
"For me, makaingon ko nga we have different strategies. What we did was very effective," he said.
Barangay Pajo has 17 sitios and is the first barangay in Lapu-Lapu City to have implemented the campaign.
Chan clarified, however, that the campaign does not mean illegal drugs are rampant in Pajo. The barangay is simply intensifying its campaign against the drug trade to aid the police.
"There are no more bigtime sellers. What's left in our area are small-time users," he stated.
CHR
Atty. Arvin Odron, regional director of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), said the agency's investigators will determine the particulars of the campaign and the parameters of its implementation.
“This must be reviewed in light of the drastic fight of the government to end drug-related criminalities or arising out of the drug use in relation to the enshrined natural and fundamental human rights of all persons, including the suspects,” he told THE FREEMAN yesterday.
He admitted being surprised upon learning of the campaign, saying this initiative is a “potent” human rights issue because of the principle of the “presumption of innocence of all persons.”
He recalled a similar campaign in Manila during the time of former mayor Alfredo Lim, but the same was stopped owing to human rights issues.
Odron said they would need to document every detail and, if possible, inspect the houses identified as part of verification procedures and get statements from those living there.
“We need to talk likewise to the local officials concerned and the police to ensure that their actions, plans, programs are in accord with the human rights standards set by the international treaties which the Philippines ratified,” he said.
He said CHR simply wants to ensure that the government's campaign against illegal drugs is consistent with its human rights treaty commitments.
“So, the CHR acts as conscience of the government on matters related to human rights promotion and protection that is why we monitor the actions of the government for potential human rights abuses or in implementing programs or policies without regard to human rights,” he said.