Duterte-Carpio against spray painting

DAVAO City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said on Wednesday that she is against the spray painting of houses of suspected drug pushers in Barangay 23-C.

"Dili man na insecticide chalk intawn nga manggawas ang cockroach kung markahan (It's not an insecticide chalk that will force cockroaches out if there's marking)," Duterte-Carpio said in a text message to Sun.Star Davao.

The mayor was referring to the plan of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) to mark houses of suspected drug pushers.

However, when the DCPO operatives led by Senior Superintendent Ronald dela Rosa resumed their proactive drug eradication operation Wednesday in at least two barangays, they did not push through with the plan.

Duterte-Carpio, however, said she never instructed Dela Rosa to launch the markings as these would violate some people's rights.

"Kadtong New Year, last month, my instructions to Dela Rosa were to conduct operations and arrest people involved in drug peddling. Not scare them out of the city, markahan ang balay and some other trick," she said.

Dela Rosa initially came up with the idea of marking an "X" on houses of 71 people who are allegedly into illegal drugs trade.

The 71 suspects -- 31 of whom are from Isla Verde and 40 from Mini Forest -- were based on the list submitted by village chief Amilbangsa Manding.

This, after Davao City Vice Mayor Rodrigo Duterte gave Manding 48 hours to clear his area of illegal drugs.

"Kung ilado na, build a case and arrest them, simple formula," Duterte-Carpio said.

The mayor said that so far, the problem on illegal drugs has already been solved since the names of the suspects are already in the hands of authorities.

"Will clarify this with him (dela Rosa)," the city mayor said, referring to the marking of houses.

On the other hand, the DCPO chief said they did not proceed on marking of “X” on houses of alleged drug peddlers, but they would still continue monitoring the area as well as the other barangays.

"Nailhan naman, mao na ang uban nanguli na," dela Rosa said.

He said the number of people on the list grew from 71 to 77 on Wednesday -- the six people added were from Isla Verde.

At least 20 out of the 77 people were tagged as "bangag" or big-time suppliers of drugs in the area, he said.

"Unfortunately, naka-padlock na ilang (bangag) mga balay ganina," dela Rosa said.

The DCPO said he is not taking the possibility that it was Manding who advised the drug peddlers to immediately escape Davao City.