Lim: Only courts can stop me

Only the courts can stop me.

Interior Secretary Alfredo Lim told this to his critics yesterday even as some local officials said they may draft their respective ordinances allowing the police to conduct spray-painting activities.

"No one should be above the law. If it is the verdict of the courts that I stop the spray-painting campaign against drug pushers, then we shall humbly bow to their decision," Lim said.

A group of lawyers asked the Court of Appeals the other day to stop Lim's anti-drug campaign, saying it a a "misguided" drive that violates human rights.

But while the court has still to decide on the case, Lim said he would continue to spray-paint the homes of suspected drug pushers "even in the presence of members of the Commission on Appointments."

Sen. Teresa Aquino-Oreta warned Lim earlier against continuing with his anti-drug gimmick, saying that such a campaign could take a toll on his chances of being confirmed by the powerful appointments body.

But Lim said it is his duty to enforce all laws without fear or favor. "Otherwise, I will be remiss in my duties as chief of the Department of the Interior and Local Government," he said.

The former director of the National Bureau of Investigation also told reporters that he and Philippine National Police chief Deputy Director Panfilo Lacson are willing to go to jail if the Supreme Court rules that their anti-drug campaign is unconstitutional.

"Lacson and myself are willing to be placed behind bars to protect the highest interest of the country and the people," he said in speech at Malacañang, where celebrations for the first anniversary of the National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center were held.

The law that Lim was referring to earlier is an ordinance in Manila, where spray-painting the homes of suspected drug pushers is legal.

Lim had said he wants to bring his spray-painting activity to other urban centers and towns where the drug problem is prevalent.

But before such a drive can take place, Lim said local officials should enact an ordinance similar to Manila's.

"I'm going to appeal to governors and mayors to enact a similar ordinance to authorize law enforcers to spray-paint the houses of drug pushers," he said.

Pasay City Vice Mayor Gregorio Alcera responded to Lim's call and said he would seek the immediate passage of a resolution that would legalize the anti-drug spray-painting activity in the city.

He said that most of the city's councilors are in favor of such a resolution.

On the other hand, members of the League of Cities of the Philippines said they are carefully studying the legal implications of Lim's proposal.

The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP), a confederation of local officials, said it, too, will look into the legality of the "scarlet letter" campaign before adopting it.

Laguna Gov. Joey Lina, who is ULAP president, said Lim's call for support drew mixed reactions from local officials.

In Bacolod City, Negros Occidental Gov. Rafael Coscolluela said he will oppose any plans to spray-paint the homes of drug pushers, saying such a drive makes a law enforcer a prosecutor and judge at the same time.

"I will refuse to have it implemented in Negros Occidental," he said.

In Quezon City, an opposition congressman described as "an act of barbarism" the spray-painting campaign launched jointly by Lim and Lacson.

"Lim and Lacson are not even worthy to be called law enforcers as they are the ones violating the law... this uncivilized manner of confronting a problem should be stopped," said party-list Rep. Renato Magtubo.

He said the two officials, by spray-painting the homes of suspected drug peddlers, are doing more harm than good.

"If we continue using methods which show disrespect for the rights of the people, then we are in for more serious problems. This would eventually erode the people's respect for civil rights and the law," he said.

Magtubo added that Lim's and Lacson's campaign would humiliate suspected drug pushers and their families but won't stop the illegal drug trade.

"The best way to fight the drug abuse problem is to cleanse the ranks of the police and jail the drug lords. No amount of spray paint would be a substitute to this," he stressed.

While Magtubo opposed Lim's and Lacson's spray-painting, Speaker Manuel Villar Jr. said he will support the drive by enacting anti-drug measures.

Among these are the so-called Eradication of Powerful Syndicates (ERAPS) bills, amendments to the Dangerous Drugs Act and a proposal to require job seekers, students and drivers to undergo drug tests.

"We really have to go all-out against drug syndicates," Villar said. "We need to act decisively against the drug problem." -- With reports from Marichu Villanueva, Jaime Laude, Jess Diaz, Liberty Dones, Delon Porcalla, Eva de Leon, Antonieta Lopez