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Thursday, June 12, 2003
Offensive approach in anti-drug drive concerns Duterte
By Aurea A. Gerundio and Racquel C. Bagnol
DAVAO -- The approach of barangay captains in getting rid of drug addicts and pushers in their areas is attracting attention that even Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, known for his own reputation as "The Punisher", is alarmed.
Concerned that the barangay officials may be over doing it and violating the rights of residents, Duterte on Wednesday asked them to go easy.
Duterte fears that the officials may not know how to conduct a campaign against illegal drugs properly and legally.
This came after a barangay official launched an intensified drive against illegal drugs on Tuesday. The official reportedly visited houses of suspected drug pushers who are on his list and warned them to stop their illegal activities before it was too late.
The barangay captain and his men allegedly barged into houses of suspected drug users and pushers to look for evidence.
Duterte reminded barangay officials and authorities that they couldn't just enter the houses of suspected drug dealers to look for evidence without any proper court order or consent of the dwellers.
"That is not allowed and they should know better," Duterte said. "You are only allowed to search a house if there is an approval of the dweller, it's perfectly legal."
The exemptions, Duterte said, are when you have a search warrant or the owners consent to the search.
Barangay captain Nani Verde of 31-D, in an interview with ABS-CBN Davao, said he visited around 10 houses of suspected drug users and peddlers in his barangay and urged them to stop their illegal activities before its too late.
Verde said the owners of the houses are among those on the list of 40 suspected drug pushers and users handed to him by an unidentified motorcycle-riding man.
"Igo lang man niingon ang nitunol nga makatabang ang listahan sa problema sa droga sa akong barangay (The unidentified man just said that the list can help in the drive against illegal drugs in our barangay)," he said.
"Magbago namo. Undanga na ninyo ang paggamit ug pagbaligya ug droga. Ayaw ninyo hulata nga madakpan mo o mapatay mo tungod sa droga (Reform. Stop using illegal drugs. Don't wait for the time when you will be arrested or killed because of this)," Verde was quoted as saying during his visit.
A woman allegedly turned violent when the group of Verde arrived at her residence. She shouted at Verde's group that she is neither a drug user nor a pusher.
Verde said illegal drug cases in his barangay decreased by 80 percent after the creation of "Alsa Katawhan Laban sa Droga."
Duterte said that if the citizens would cooperate with the barangay leader, especially the barangay captain, there would be no reason why they should object.
"Things are going from bad to worse, and there's no reason that we will not renew our drive against all forms of criminality generated by drugs," Duterte said.
(June 12, 2003 issue)
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