Inside Philippine politics & beyond

Yuppie call center agent says police came calling cause his name was on the drug watch list although he’s not a drug addict

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By Raïssa Robles

CRIME-LOGOYesterday, Peter Tiu Lavina – the mainstay of Rodrigo Duterte’s social media team – posted this on Facebook:

“To win the war against drugs, we need to be resolute like #PresidentDuterte. There should be no neutrals in this righteous crusade against evil. Let those fence-sitting nitpicking Humpty Dumpties realize that they are derailing our total victory against this menace. They are clearly on the side of if not protecting the drug lords.”

I found this post highly disturbing because it comes from an official of Malacanang Palace.

First, Lavina name-calls those critical of Duterte’s “war on drugs” methods as “nitpicking Humpty Dumpties”.

Second, he says these fence-sitting nitpickers are “derailing our total victory against this menace” (a convenient scapegoat if the “war” fails).

And third, it concludes – VERY, VERY WRONGLY I must say – that the nitpickers “are clearly on the side of if not protecting the drug lords.”

What you are implying, Mr. Lavina, is that nitpickers can become legitimate targets of your “war on drugs” because you have already made the conclusion – WRONGLY SO – that critics of your “war on drugs” are drug lord protectors.

This reminds me very clearly of what happened during Ferdinand Marcos’ Martial Law. What Duterte officials are doing is expanding the definition of who are the enemies of the state. Initially now, these are the drug pushers, drug lords and drug traffickers.

Their next target are the critics who are now being accused of being “clearly on the side of if not protecting the drug lords”.

And this is how the drug war can totally spin out of control just like Marcos’ war against the “communists” did.

This is what you call IMPUNITY.

Duterte supporters and officials don’t seem to understand that to reduce the drug problem they must put in place all the safeguards against mistakes, abuse and misuse of the vast police powers now being used. Wrongful arrests and wrongful deaths are what will derail the anti-drug program.

Mr Lavina gleefully quotes the Humpty Dumpty rhyme, which ominously ends with Humpty Dumpty falling and dying.

I want him to look soberly at this other nursery rhyme:

For want of a nail the shoe was lost,

for want of a shoe the horse was lost,

for want of a horse the knight was lost,

for want of a knight the battle was lost,

for want of a battle the kingdom was lost.

all for want of a horseshoe nail.

I just had to get this off my chest before I go on with the frightening experience of this 26-year-old call center agent whose home was visited recently by armed police officers looking for him to “invite” him for questioning at the police station because they claimed he was involved in a hit-and-run.

I don’t know the name of this yuppie.

The narrative below is from Ray Paolo J. Santiago, executive director of the Ateneo Human Rights Center. Arpee Santiago accompanied the yuppie to the police station to clear his name. Here is Arpee’s story of what happened, which could clearly happen to anyone, including you.

In other words, no one – AND I REPEAT, NO ONE – except maybe those in Malacanang, is safe from being put on the drug watch list, which is also turning out to be a kill list.

The drug watch list eerily reminds me of the “Order of Battle” that was routinely drawn up and used by the military during Martial Law. It contained names of what they call the “hardened Left”. It often contained names of Jesuits, names of nuns from Maryknoll (now Miriam) College, from St. Scholastica and even from Assumption College. It was studded with names of students and graduates from the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila, PUP, etc.

Drug pushers, users and traffickers, it seems, are now the new Left as far as the Duterte government is concerned.

Here is Arpee’s narrative, published with his permission:

Warning: this is a long post.

By Ray Paulo Santiago

 Executive Director, Ateneo Human Rights Center 

Two nights ago, I assisted a 26-year old call center agent who found himself in his community police precinct’s drug watchlist in Manila. He mentioned that earlier this month, a couple of police officers went to his house in the guise that he was involved in a hit-and-run incident and wanted to invite him to the police station.

Fortunately, he was not home. He learned about this and went to his barangay. That is when he discovered that the real reason for the police visit was his inclusion in the drug watch list. Apparently, some anonymous information surfaced that he is involved in drugs. Not only as a user, but as a drug pusher.

He was able to clear his name at the barangay and got a certification that he is innocent of the suspicion; that he was never known to the barangay as being involved with drugs. He proceeded to the police station with the mission to clear his name.

At the police station, he was told that if he really wanted to clear his name, he had to fill out the “surrender form.” In the form, he only had 2 choices: either he is a user or a pusher. He refused as he never got involved with any illegal drug. After much pleading, the police officer relented but asked him to fill out a personal data sheet which asked for all his personal circumstances and details, including the name of his parents. He refused as he was afraid to give a lot of details very personal to all of us. So he left.

But since he was tagged as a “drug pusher” in the list, he was also afraid that he might be targeted. Maybe not by the police authorities, but somehow he felt vulnerable that he might be killed by vigilante groups. And this is where I came in. I assisted him as he wants to again be secure. He wanted to feel safe.

He was accompanied by his mom, lola and a cousin when we talked as he was afraid. I simply asked him straight out if he was involved in illegal drugs and warned him that it is him who will suffer the consequences if he would lie to me. He maintained that he never touched any, more so peddled them.

So off we went to the police station. What did I find out?

After a long argument and discussion with the police officer (who turned out to be an intelligence officer), the “intel” that they have is not really intel. Thankfully, I have learned from UPROTC (#supportrotc) that unverified information can never ripen into an intelligence report. It is simply chismis. So the police are actually acting on raw information. Thankfully, the intel officer acted quickly the first time the guy went to the station. Based on his background check (and intel ops), he is “negative.” My guy has indeed not been involved with the illegal drug trade. In short, the info that the police have is simply wrong.

Can he then be delisted from the drug watch list? Hell, no. At least not yet. He has to wait for maybe 3 months since the list has been forwarded to higher headquarters and the stations are pressured to follow through and “clean” the list.

Bottomline, I got the personal assurance of the police and intel officer that my guy is “negative,” and that they will follow the procedure to delist him. I also blatantly told the police officer that I will personally hold them accountable should something happen to him. Again, they assured us that he will be safe.

I felt happy for my guy. But I feel sad and scared for the other innocent persons dragged into this because of sloppy police intelligence work. How tempted I was to actually include some people I know to be included in the dug watch list. People I know indeed are innocent. But nonetheless for them to realize that they can always be wrongfully accused. And it is very scary nowadays to be mistakenly included. But on second thought, I don’t want this insecurity suffered even by my enemies. I don’t want to risk their lives just so that they will realize that the threat is real.

I am writing this post for us to find lawful and safe solutions to these illegal drugs and criminality. No person in his or her right mind ever supported these. And when we talk of human rights, it does not mean that we support criminals. I simply want a system that no innocent person will fall in the cracks of our justice system. It is simply not a numbers game. Every life counts. That is the kind of humanity I learned to love and grow up with. That is the kind of compassion my faith has also taught me.

Comments

  1. 2 thoughts from me:
    1. As a call centre agent, chances are the 26 year old voted Du30. Sure would like to ask him this question and how if he is proud of his vote.
    2. What about the guy who initiated the false report? Goes scot free? Should’nt he be shot instead — for wasting the intel officer’s time.

  3. With all these human rights violations going on around the country one thing missing stands out among the human rights advocates Where are you AMAL CLOONEY ? Where are you when it really matters? If i remember right you were indignant over Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s ‘ imprisonment. Well that person was faking her illness and she is waltzing herself in congress right now. What about the thousands that have been slaughtered? Oh i forgot they do not matter because they can not afford your fee.

    • Forget Anal Clooney. Who is she to us anyway. Closer to home, I wonder what happened to Gabriela? Their loud silence is deafening. But of course I never expected much from them anyway either.

  4. the day after or few hours after palace declared success in first phase of campaign vs drugs ang daming kababalaghan ang nagyari sa ating bansa:

    1. polis committed suicide by making talon mula sa bubungan ng gusaling pinagtrabahuhan.

    2. newly appointed who gained respect and has integrity at the work place for about 40 years in service nag resign without stating why.

    3. mag-asawang traders from iloilo city shoot by unidentified suspect. Duterte on alleged drug lord Odicta slay: He was being hunted.
    kung hunted sila bakit pumunta sa dilg to clear their names and denay allegations

    4. ngayon balik ang baling ng du30 sa d5. Duterte tells De Lima: Resign, hang yourself “Wala ka nang mukhang maipapakita sa kapwa mo babae (You’ve lost face before your fellow women),” Duterte said.

    5. sagot ng d5: (In the face of deceit and the loss of our value in morality and our dignity, will we just stay silent? Will we let fear get the better of us and eventually become victims of violence and abuse?)

    • as regards no.3 above, buti yong mag-asawa hindi sabay-sabay pinatalon sa roof at sinabing nag-suicide ang dalawa.

      I think, the mag-asawa made a mistake of trusting the polis who were friendly kuno 1st time they visited the mag-asawa at home. they took the polis at face value and paid with their lives.

      ngayon, anybody going to the polis station should not go by themselves, dapat may kasamang abogado, o imam, mufti, o pari. never go alone dahil you could be give summary execution. these days, never trust a polis, always be wary and record all that is happening while in polis watchhouse. save yourself.

      • as regards no.4, if de lima will not resign and hang herself, maybe digong can do what he preaches and resign himself, or better still, talon sa roof in malakanyang, commit suicide too and save his honor. dahil sa kahiyaan at kabiguan because de lima did not obey him, at sa sobrang pangunsume dahil ang babaeng si de lima is getting to be the nail in his coffin.

  5. I know exactly how they obtain the drug watch list. Police intelligence would go to barangay and asks the chairman, kagawad, or tanod of suspected individuals using or dealing drugs. Whoever the barangay officials pinpointed would be automatically included in the police watch list without conducting any validation. The process is prone to abuse because the barangay officials could just submit the name of their political rivals or any individuals they want to be listed.

    • exactly dyan naguumpisa problema pano kung kalaban mo ang nakaupong bgy captain syempre ikaw unang ilalagay nyan mali di ba? dapat may tamang surveillance sila hindi yun hearsay tsismis..

      life is precious God bless..

        • and be careful of the children your kids invited to their birthday parties. they looked around and observe things. they knew where and how you lived. you may looked tired from all the running around and preparing for the party, but to them, you may looked haggard at medyo adik, and then, they report back to their parents. be mindful of yourself too, and what you say to them. maybe in your eagerness to be friends with the friends of your kids, you end up saying things you should not. compared to adults, kids are not good in processing info and may get the wrong idea.

          back home, parents asked: how was the party?

          anak: okay, pero and parents ni . . . ay mukhang adik, o drug pusher. hindi gaanong kalinis ang bahay at ang kagamitan nila’y parang silang mayayaman, hindi naman gaano kalahi ang sahod ng father ni . . .

          and so the seed of intrigue is planted.

        • engsakto! Barangay watch list is PNP’s FACE VALUE. At face value!

          Not even our prosecutors’ offices will accept that. Much more our Courts. Where’s ‘d rule of law?

          ‘D ’87 Constitution now is at BARANGAYS’ value.

          Mockery’s Salmon na.

        • @moonie, it reminds of of napoles scam. di ba sa tel directory nila kinuha ang ibang mga pangalan? ha ha ha

      • mahilig pa naman sa tsismis ang administrasyong ito..nangungunang tsismoso ang pangulo..pangulo ng mga tsismoso.

        • ang masama ay ganito:

          “You know, your answers scare me because I really thought that when the names were read, they were really based on evidence given by competent agencies and here I am being told basically the answer is ‘no,’’ Roque told the two officials.

          “I’m scared because my name could be there, who knows. I don’t really know how to do this. Maybe when we discuss the budget of the Office of the President we can already discuss this because I’m really wondering where we are basing the list of drug coddlers that are being popularized and mentioned by the President,” he added. –

          http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/579493/news/nation/pdea-nbi-deny-involvement-in-preparing-duterte-s-list-of-narco-politicians#sthash.I4vzX8PJ.dpuf

        • the best thing roque can do is to give moral support to de lima. roque has stared down criminals before, he can do so again. only this time, kapolisan na ang criminal, may baril ang mga tsismosong ito, but that should not faze roque. he has seen guns before and has met criminals.

          sa senado, roque can question the very high cost of tsismis intel, the shoddy work that has no basis but gossip, turo-turo at walang hard evidence. spending big bucks for shoddy work, and on top of that, tataasan ang sahod ng mga tsismosong kapolisan.

          that is money not well spent. money down the drain.

    • Barangay Watch List – police intelligence yan? DIYOS KO!

      Kasing galing ng INTERPOL? NBI? FBI? CIA? Mi5? NISA? NI?

      How did these barangay kapitans, et. al., graduate from those Agencies?

      . . . ‘basta! sa aming polis intelligence ‘yan!’

      • ah, the baranggay kapitans have been smoking dope again, creative masyado ang imagination, mind readers at may biglang antena sa ulo.

  6. While everyone is being distracted emotionally on the local killings and other comical sidelines, I am not sure if this one link or info is already posted.

    http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the-buzz/report-china-could-make-big-move-the-south-china-starting-17350

    I know that Digong has vowed to start a “bloody confrontation” against any country that infringes on Manila’s sovereignty and suggesting that he would “happily beat up” any party that attempts to take control of the disputed Scarborough Shoals.”
    I hope his tough when the showdown begins otherwise Filipinos are like tiange sold again at a bargain price,

    How can the Filipinos be prepared for anything if their mind is already screwed and numbed with these senseless killings. Some say drugs are the biggest problems, but this a lull beyond the storm when China is also offering a golden carrot to the govt about constructing huge drug rehabs for the drug arrested victims and criminals for rehabilitation.

    F. Ramos may be there to conclude talks in China, but on whose terms and gain?

    “But there is also now another reason such an anonymous source might want to come forward and reveal such information, stating such a move “is a must for China”, especially right now: it puts pressure on Manila to reach a settlement. With reports like the above advancing a narrative of possible reclamation as well as recent deployments of large numbers of ships around the shoal as well as ‘bomber selfies’ over the area, China is signaling it may be getting ready to act boldly. And with newly appointed Philippines envoy, former President Fidel Ramos, just concluding talks in Hong Kong, in what was described as an ice-breaking session, pressure is mounting on Manila to not only speed up negotiations, but agree to a settlement on China’s terms”.

    One may say there is a bigger chance being hit by an asteroid than this island war to be, but the signs are there , in fact why would this govt lick Chinese ass if they’re not bothered? Because they know that the country has no capability to detonate even a small home firecrackers :) Only big farts and big mouths.

    • digong said the same thing about him riding jetski and planting pinas flag. pero, ends up with fvr waving white flag of surrender to china, yuko all the way. it’s hard to trust digong now. he was even ‘happily beat up’ by headache and took time off work.

      that drug rehabs china is offering to build, it’s all money making ventures for china and more chinese workers will be coming in, to man and oversee blg projects, kickbacks dito, kickbacks duon. the use of substandard made in china building materials is scary, they still use asbestos products. though china is not forthcoming about asbestos use.

      after rehab, those hundreds of rehabilitated will be back home, and with no job in the offing, end up being burden to their families. and in the meantime, and in order to cope with harsh realities of life with added stress and pressure of looking for work and finding none, they end up self medicating. at lulo na naman uli sila sa droga.

      the only livelihood they know is dealing and selling drugs. dapat meron decent jobs in the offing, rehab is not end all, be all.