Pubdate: Tue, 01 Mar 2005 Source: Philippine Star (Philippines) Copyright: PhilSTAR Daily Inc. 2005 Contact: http://www.philstar.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/622 Author: Pia Lee-Brago Cited: Philippine National Police http://www.pnp.gov.ph Cited: Philippine Dangerous Drugs Board http://www.ddb-ph.com Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines SPRAY PAINTING OF HOUSES OF DRUG LORDS PROPOSED Philippine National Police Ant-Illegal Drugs Special Operations Task Force (AID-SOFT) chief Director General Ricardo de Leon proposed a "spray painting" campaign on houses of suspected drug lords, similar to the anti-drug campaign of former Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. During the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel, De Leon cited Lim's campaign in Manila and challenged local government units to show strong political will in the campaign against illegal drugs and study the possibility of passing an ordinance authorizing the "spray painting" of houses of suspected drug pushers. Lim's controversial campaign was challenged before the courts but De Leon said he is prepared to face possible charges for pushing and implementing the spray painting campaign. "We need the local governments to help us. If the local government will show strong political will and the police can prove its moral ascendancy in the implementation of the drug laws then we can be more effective," De Leon said. Lim said there should be a city ordinance empowering the mayor and the police to undertake the spray painting campaign. Citing records from the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) in 1999, De Leon said there are 3.4 million drug users in the country and of these, 1.2 million are regular drug users. - ---