Sin backs spray-paint campaign

Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin is supporting newly appointed Interior Secretary Alfredo Lim's spray-painting campaign against drug pushers.

But Sin said he would want to see the campaign done in plush villages where many big-time drug dealers reside.

Sin, in a statement, said Lim's campaign was one approach in curbing the drug problem, which the prelate believes has reached alarming proportions.

He was quick to add, however, that a greater political will is needed to sustain the campaign "and to get to the root of the problem."

"We already have an emergency situation as far as the drug problem is concerned... and we cannot approach this menace with limp wrists or soft gloves," he said.

"The (spray painting) campaign is one good approach but it is dispersing the small-time drug dealers in poor areas. What about the bigtime drug dealers who live in luxury in safely guarded houses?" Sin asked.

Lim revived last Monday his "scarlet letter" campaign, which involves spraying red paint warnings on the houses of people convicted or suspected of using, selling and manufacturing illegal drugs. The warnings read: "Beware: Drug pusher's home. Stay away."

The same campaign was once done in Manila in 1997 when Lim was still mayor.

Lim said he and Philippine National Police chief Deputy Director General Panfilo Lacson were not afraid to be hauled to jail or be shot at the Luneta by those opposing the campaign. He stressed that only an order from the courts can stop him from pursuing the drive.

For his part, President Estrada, who has given Lim a "blanket authority" in the campaign, said the spray painting was merely a "symbolism" of his government's no letup efforts against drug abuse.

"This is just a symbolism of our fight against drugs to show our people and especially drug pushers that we are not joking and that we will really go after them," the President said in his weekly radio program yesterday.

Many local government officials also have announced plans to implement a similar campaign in their areas.

In Quezon City, Mayor Ismael Mathay Jr. asked his city council yesterday to pass an ordinance that would authorize the city police to spray red paint on houses of convicted drug dealers.

Mathay said Lim had furnished him with a copy of an ordinance enacted in Manila in 1997 on the spray painting campaign for his guidance.

Mathay said they had to adopt the controversial measure to prevent drug dealers in Manila from transferring to Quezon City.

"We share the boundaries of Manila and there is a big possibility that these identified drug dealers would just transfer to our city," he said.

There are some, though, who have vowed not to resort to the gimmick amid concerns that it violates basic human and civil rights.

Makati Mayor Elenita Binay, on the other hand, expressed opposition to the campaign and asked Lim to go after bigtime drug syndicates instead of small-time peddlers.

"We cannot believe that the national police is not aware of the identities of these bigtime pushers. Why can't Secretary Lim go after them first?" she said.

Binay noted that the Makati City council intends to pass a resolution condemning the spray painting campaign which she said "could not replace efficient law enforcement and the cooperation of the community in fighting the drug menace."

Human rights activists and lawyers have already asked the Court of Appeals to issue a temporary restraining order against the campaign, which they compared to the Nazi's "Yellow Star" drive against the Jews.

They added that the campaign "mars the Philippines' image as a mature democracy."

Yesterday, Sen. Rodolfo Biazon joined those opposing the campaign as he cautioned Lim against issuing an order to local government units to implement a similar drive.

Biazon, who chairs the Senate committee on national defense and security, said spray-painting activities cannot be implemented nationwide on mere orders of the interior secretary.

The senator said local officials such as councilors, governors and mayors have already expressed their opposition to the activity.

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel, for his part, said the spray painting drive has already experienced some setbacks in the past when Lim painted the wrong houses.

He said he had received complaints from concerned Manila residents that Lim painted warnings on their houses which were no longer being occupied by suspected drug pushers.

And Pimentel noted that such complaints would surely be looked into by the members of the Commission on Appointments (CA) when they meet to confirm Lim's appointment to his new post.

"Certainly it would be a major concern for the CA members that human rights groups had already questioned the legality of his campaign," he said.

Lim, however, appears to be slowly downplaying the campaign.

In his meeting with the media yesterday, he said he would urge local governments to strengthen their anti-drug abuse councils which would play a vital role in the battle against illegal drugs.

"The anti-drug abuse council is a potent force to reckon with in our fight against illegal drugs," he said, adding that he wants all LGUs to complete the organizational framework of their respective anti-drug abuse councils.

Such councils plan, implement and evaluate programs on drug abuse eradication and prevention. Composed of local officials and civic leaders, they gather data on drug abuse in their localities and list down the names of suspected drug users and pushers.

Based on these data, the council coordinates with the police and other institutions for sanctions, rehabilitation and counseling. -- With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Perseus Echeminada, Marichu Villanueva, Rommel Bagares, DPA