Batangas town's 'shame campaign' continues, this time with 'coffin'

Nine arrested drug suspects were paraded in Tanauan town in Batangas on Monday, carrying a replica of a coffin for grim symbolism.

An exclusive report by GMA News' John Consulta on "24 Oras" said the black coffin had a signboard that says "Ilibing ang multo ng droga sa Agosto."

The Tanauan Police and members of the Mayor's Action Group (MAcG) nabbed the suspects in Brgy. Narvaez. One of them was reportedly arrested while in the act of taking illegal drugs. 

Among those arrested were a former police official and the brother of a barangay captain identified as Arwin De Sagun, who denied using shabu.

One of the suspects said he has stopped using illegal drugs a long time ago.

Meanwhile, Mayor Antonio Halili said he will continue with his "shame campaign" even if it puts him at odds with the Commission on Human Rights.

"Karapatan ng mga constituents ko na malaman kung sino ang dapat iwasan. Itutuloy ko ito," Halili said.

He added that his campaign has also made him the target of a demolition job following an intelligence report linking MAcG chief Allan Fajardo to illegal drugs.

"Itataya ko puwesto ko, walang kinalaman sa droga ang mga tao ko, buhay na namin ang tinaya namin kontra droga. Isang dating heneral ang nasa likod nito na may kaugnayan sa Bilibid 19," he said, referring to the 19 high-profile inmates detained at the maximum security compound of the New Bilibid Prison.  —Joseph Tristan Roxas/KBK, GMA News