MALACAÑANG on Tuesday said the Commission on Human Rights will assess if the ‘‘Flores de Pusher” campaign of Tanauan, Batangas Mayor Antonio Halili is within the bounds of the law.
“We trust that the CHR will perform its duty to review if such activity is within the bounds of the law,” Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said even as President-apparent Rodrigo Duterte said he would be willing to provide Halili legal advise if he gets in trouble.
Duterte said he had never paraded suspected drug users around Davao City to shame them into giving up their narcotics, but he was willing to help Halili if ever he gets in legal trouble because of the “Flores de Pusher” campaign.
On Monday, agents of Halili supposedly forced 11 suspected drug pushers to join the so-called “Flores de Pusher” while formal charges were being drafted against them.
Some of the suspects, who were recently arrested from three target areas, denied that they are drug pushers while others admitted to the crime due to poverty.
Halili said the suspects were given warnings to stop their illegal activities or face apprehension, but the suspects allegedly did not listen.
The warnings were also delivered via mail to the suspects’ residence.
Halili stressed the CHR cannot presume their innocence of the suspects since they were caught in the act. He said one suspect was even arrested while attempting to hide the illegal drugs in his underwear.
The Tanauan anti-crime group recovered the drug money with an unknown number of illegal drugs and drug paraphernalia.
The anti-crime group said they have proof that the suspects were involved in the illegal drug trade, including pictures or a surveillance video footage.
It also said the arrests were properly documented.
Several relatives of the suspects witnessed the shame campaign and denied the suspect’s involvement in illegal drugs.
The report said Tanauan has earned the tag of “little Mindanao” because of the illegal drug trade there.
Halili, known for his policies resembling that of incoming President Rodrigo Duterte, vowed to curtail illegal drugs in his town and continue his shame campaign despite investigation by the CHR.
Majority of residents support Halili’s campaign and called on to him to include big-time drug pushers.