CHR: We’ll sue anyone who persists in shame campaign

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) threatened yesterday to file charges against former Manila mayor Alfredo Lim if he insists on spray-painting the homes of suspected drug peddlers.

Stressing that the CHR was not singling out the former mayor, CHR officer-in-charge Dominador Calamba II said the human rights watchdog will also charge any law enforcer or agency that would persist in using a "shame campaign" in the government’s renewed war against illegal drugs.

In the government’s renewed campaign against drugs, there are talks of reviving the controversial "spray paint campaign" previously employed by then Mayor Lim in putting to shame persons charged in court or the prosecutor’s office in the City of Manila.

"Such moves have been rendered illegal by the Supreme Court and, (to) all intents... are clear violations of human rights," Calamba said.

"While we do not condone drug peddling, those responsible of enforcing the law must at all times and without exemption, uphold due process and respect for people," the CHR official added.

Speaking at a press conference marking International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Calamba said that since the spray painting campaign was one way of trampling on the rights of the suspect, then it was clearly a form of psychological torture.

"Spray painting is not part of the penalty set out by the law against drug pushing. I advise these drug busters to gather evidence against any suspect and bring them to court," Calamba said.