Groups hit DILG’s drug drop box

MANILA, Philippines — Two groups aired their concern over a recent order of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) directing local government units to set up drop boxes that will enable the public to ano-nymously report alleged drug abusers and other criminals.

Edre Olalia, president of the National Union of People’s Lawyers, said “anyone can invent, manufacture, recycle or abuse unvetted information to the prejudice especially of ordinary law-abiding citizens and even critics and dissenters.”

Olalia said they are looking at the policy and determine if a case can be filed against it.

Human rights group Karapatan said the “dropbox system” will neither solve crime, ensure security of citizens nor will it address the roots of rebellion in the country.

 “Such solutions are unreliable and short-sighted, and will merely promote unnecessary paranoia and rifts between and among members of a community,” Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay said.

The inclusion of drop boxes for drug reporting was allegedly among the measures included in DILG’s community-based program to combat drugs and other forms of crimes.

Philippine National Police chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa welcomed the DILG Memorandum Circular 2017-2012 dated Aug. 29.

He assured the public that  all tips will be verified.

DILG officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy said the drop box “is just a suggestion box. We do not see any sinister motive there.”– Janvic Mateo, Rhodina Villanueva, Emmanuel Tupas