Ermita halts labeling amid CHR concerns

Concerned about being red-flagged by the Commission on Human Rights-7, officials have stopped posting stickers identifying “drug-free” homes in Barangay Ermita, Cebu City.

Ermita Barangay Captain Felicisimo “Imok” Rupinta yesterday said the barangay has stopped the posting since October 5 after he read an article in a newspaper that the CHR reportedly branded the move as “unconstitutional” in nature.

Ermita homes identified to be clear of drugs previously got a signage that read “The house is a drugfree home” while those with questionable history got “Beware: This area (was) a drug den before.”

“Nihunong man mi og pamutang kay nabasahan nako sa newspaper. Amo hangyo padad-an mi ngari (og notice). Wako kasabot nganong bati ang among gibuhat ingon sa gawas kay kalapasan sa human rights,” Rupinta said.

The village chief reiterated his statement that the houses underwent thorough investigation and verification before the campaign started.

“Duha ka tuig na kong nag-monitor. Sige ko hangyo ana nila. Ang tumong nako, mawagtang ang mamaligyaay ug mamalitay,” he said.

Association of Barangay Councils President and Tisa Barangay Captain Phillip Zafra said he will initiate a meeting with the CHR-7 so that all barangays will be guided on how to go about their antidrug initiatives.

“Patabangon lang namo ang Human Rights kay amo man gud nakita nga epektibo ni nga klase sa pamaagi sa kampanya. But then naa man guy gamay nga reservation ang CHR. Gusto namo nga madungog sad ni sila,” Zafra said.

“Hopefully ma-convince namo unya mapangitaan namo og sistema o proseso unsaon namo og pahigayon sa ingon. Ang amo ana, naa ba silay mga methodology nga itudlo kung unsaon, unsay among buhaton or naa ba silay laing mga pamaagi. Mas maayo man sad na nga makapaminaw nila being an expert aning human rights,” he added.

Unlike Tumulak, Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III is not in favor of the campaigns which put labels in front of a family’s home, whether the stickers blare out “drug-free home” just like in Ermita or “identified drug den area” like in Barangay Pajo, LapuLapu City.

Davide does not recommend Cebu barangays to follow suit because for him, these moves are “discriminatory” and may cause a bad impact to the community, especially among children.

“The environment educates. Children should have a beautiful and orderly surrounding,” he said.

The governor recommended that barangays should instead intensify campaigns similar to Tokhang (Toktok-Hangyo).

According to Davide, it’s unnecessary for the police to always come if the real objective of the officials is to listen and address the problems concerning suspected and self-confessed drug personalities.

He encouraged the barangay chiefs to constantly talk to their residents to keep them in check. For the drug surrenderees, he advised to “give them something worthwhile to do.”

Lawyer Paul Oaminal, former vice chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board, is also against the anti-drug campaign in Ermita.

“It is self-serving because it is the politicians who are putting it up,” he said.

Oaminal was wondering what guidelines were used by the barangay in coming up with the list of drug-free households.

“If it should have credibility, the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council or BADAC with the inclusion of the PNP will deliberate on who are the drug-free households, not the unilateral or sole discretion or judgment of a barangay captain,” he said.