Arrested Tanauan drug suspects released after being paraded in public

Three alleged drug peddlers arrested during a raid were paraded in public in Tanauan, Batangas, on Tuesday only to be released afterward due to lack of evidence against them.

A report by GMA News' Lei Alviz on 24 Oras said the suspects — two men and one woman — were paraded in bride-and-groom fashion with signboards saying, "Pusher ako, wag tularan!"

Tanauan Mayor Antonio Halili, the brains behind the "walk of shame" of arrested suspects in the city, said although they have no evidence against the three, the suspects had admitted to them that they sell illegal drugs for a living. 

"Hindi naman po. Nito lang po kasi nagipit po kami. Kailangan kasi ng pampalibing ng nanay ko," the female suspect told Halili when asked if she's been selling illegal drugs for a long time.

Halili, despite being at loggerheads with the Commission on Human Rights, said he would continue his "shame campaign" as an anti-crime measure in the city.

"Ipaparada ko kahit pulis. I'll be very happy to do that at least to prove na meron talaga tayong undesirable police personnel," he said.

Just this Sunday, seven alleged drug pushers and users were paraded in a similar wedding-type fashion. —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News