MARKED!

Red Paint Vs Illegal Drugs

THE POLICE marked with glaring red ink houses of people tagged as behind
the illegal drug trade in the city, a mechanism once used by former Manila
Mayor Alfredo Lim. The campaign of Lim was stopped by the Supreme Court. To
avoid the fate of Lim, himself a retired police official, the local police
officials instead marked the houses of those involved in the trade with the
words: "Alsa Droga Supporters."

The High Court declared Lim's move as illegal because the houses were
marked as if implicating those living there as involved in the illegal drug
business.

Leading the team yesterday that painted about 30 houses in areas where
illegal drugs were known to proliferate were Sr. Supt. Conrado Laza, Davao
City Police Office director, and Supt. Wilkens Villanueva, Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 11 director.

Laza said said the activity to mark the houses was done in line with the
campaign of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to strengthen the fight
against illegal drugs. The police marked the hosues of those who were
included in their watchlist.

The campaign of the local police in fighting illegal drugs has even
resulted in the surrender of about 200 individuals who were identified as
among those involved in the trade.

On Monday alone, nine persons surrendered to Roberto Ulan-Ulan, 76-A
barangay chair, and admitted their involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Ulan-Ulan then endorsed the surrenderees to Chief Insp. Vicente Danao,
Talomo Police Station chief.

A couple, known to be bigtime drug pushers in Matina, also surrendered to
Danao on Sunday night. Another batch of eight illegal drug suspects also
surrendered to Danao on Sunday.

Those identified as behind the illegal drug trade have started to come out
in the open after a vigilante group reportedly gunned down several
individuals identified as behind the illegal drug trade.

The move of the police yesterday to mark the houses of illegal drug
suspects was criticized by those who were felt alluded to because they were
branded even without the benefit of due process.

But Laza dismissed the protest, saying the police did not "have bad
intention" except to remind them (people living in the marked houses) of
their commitment to support the government in its drive against drug
trafficking.

Some of those living in the marked houses were new occupants who did not
know about the identities of those previously living in these houses.

"We will continue to monitor their actuation," said Laza, adding that if
these people will not stop with their illegal activities, "it's better for
them to leave the city. Bahala na ang Diyos sa kanila."

The authorities even found paraphernalia used in sniffing shabu at the
house of a certain Adasi Saling, but they could not arrest Saling because
the search was done without a warrant.

After marking the houses, Laza and company went to the Almendras Gym where
Mayor Rodrigo Duterte was waiting to receive those who surrendered.

One of those who surrendered said he had to give up for fear of being
killed by the vigilante group identified as the Davao Death Squad.
"Surrender ko kay naa man daw ako pangalan sa listahan. Basig madamay ko sa
patay," said Edwin of Bucana.

Edwin, 25, and three others wereaccompanied by Minda Badiang, purok leader
of the place he was staying.

Despite their surrender, Duterte still expressed doubt about the capability
of the surrenderees to shy away from the illegal drug trade.

"Dili ko mutoo nga dili namo mobalik. About 90 percent of the those who
will surrender will really return (to illegal drug trade), but I will
accept you provided you will commit yourselves for rehabilitation," Duterte
said.

Duterte said he will look for money to rehabilitate the surrenderees as
they will be required to report daily to the police headquarters.

"I will hire a doctor and nurses for you. I will provide you everything,
food and programs to show you that killings will not solve the drug
problem," Duterte said.

Duterte even said he will try to look for budget to give them an allowance
of P2,000 a month to support their families while they are udergoing
rehabilitation. (with a report from Anthony Allada)