THE Commission on Human Rights on Monday called on the Department of the Interior and Local Government and barangay officials to be more discerning in carrying out the directive to submit a list of suspected drug pushers and criminals in their communities.
The statement came following remarks by DILG Undersecretary Martin Diño who had said that he would make sure all barangay chiefs submit a list of suspected drug pushers and suspected criminals in their area.
“We have consistently maintained that intelligence gathering in pursuing drug personalities and criminals is a function of law enforcement. But giving sanctions to barangay officials who would not comply may encourage a practice of unthorough submission of names just to avoid being penalized by the DILG,” Public Affairs and Strategic Communication Office chief Jacqueline Ann de Guia said.
Pending the issuance of its comprehensive guidelines, the CHR is open to join forces with the DILG to ensure that adequate safeguards are observed in operationalizing the directive.
De Guia said the interior and local government department must also present a clear process on how barangay officials would obtain valid information on suspected personalities and the ways to verify the integrity of the information.
The CHR said addressing the problem on the sale and use of illegal drugs is best achieved with the participation of all concerned, especially the community.
“At the same time, Constitutional guarantees, such as presumption of innocence and right to due process, are in place to ensure that human rights are protected at all times,” it added.
De Guia said they welcome community-based programs designed to strengthen the government’s effort to curb the issue of illegal drugs and criminality.
She echoed the call of the commission to the Duterte administration to evaluate its anti-illegal drug campaign and adopt a more responsive and human rights-based approach to combatting criminality, and the provision for collaboration to concerned communities and sectors.
“This time may sanction ‘pag hindi nakapagsubmit. Tatanungin ko ang legal kung pwede akong magsuspend agad at kung hindi naman, tatanungin ko papaano mabibigyan ng sanction kung halimbawang hindi sila susunod sa DILG,” Diño said last week.
With this, the CHR has urged barangay officials to be cautious in following the mandate of the DILG.
“(W)e urge the Department of the Interior and Local Government, as well as barangay officials, to be more discerning in carrying out the directive to submit a list of suspected drug pushers and criminals in their communities,” it said.
It added that it is willing to work with the DILG in creating the implementing guidelines for the order.
“Pending the issuance of its comprehensive guidelines, the Commission is open to join forces with the DILG to ensure that adequate safeguards are observed in operationalizing this directive,” the CHR said.
“The DILG must also present a clear process on how barangay officials will obtain valid information on the suspected personalities, as well as ways to verify the integrity of that information,” it added.