Jacket thief latest to undergo 'walk of shame' in Tanauan

A man who confessed to stealing a jacket worth P200 was the latest to be paraded in public in Tanauan, Batangas, a report by GMA News' Mark Salazar on "24 Oras" said Wednesday.

Unlike the previous suspects who underwent the so-called walk of shame, there was no signboard hanging on the suspect telling onlookers of his alleged crime. Instead, he was ordered to shout "Magnanakaw po ako" every now and then.

According to Mayor Antonio Halili, the brains behind the shame campaign on suspected criminals in the city, the suspect was arrested Tuesday after he stole the jacket from a small store.

"Nagtitinda na maliit ang puhunan [tapos] pagnanakawan mo ng halagang P200, P300, importante na sa kanila yun. Wala sa laki, wala sa liit 'yan. Ang gusto kong mangyari diyan, 'pag nakita nila 'yang tao na 'yan, bantayan na yung kinikilos [nila]," Halili said in the report.

Halili said it was not the first time the suspect was arrested for theft.

The report said the suspect, though he refused to be interviewed in front of the camera, has admitted to stealing the jacket because of a pressing financial need.

He also said he was deeply hurt by his punishment and is mulling filing a complaint with the Commission on Human Rights (CHR).

The CHR is already pursuing a case against Halili and other city officials for parading suspected criminals in public.

The mayor, however, is unmoved.

"Tuloy-tuloy itong aking kampanya na para mawala talaga ng tuluyan ang krimen sa Tanauan at yung mga tao ay makaiwas at huwag pamarisan yung mga tao na 'yan," Halili said.  —Rie Takumi/KBK, GMA News