Mayor says no to ‘shame walk’

BAGUIO CITY – “There is no need to parade wrong-doers, or let them do a shame walk,” Mayor Mauricio Domogan said here last week. 

The mayor was reacting to inquiries, which referred to Tanauan, Batangas Antonio Halili parading “Santacruzan style,” suspected drug pushers, allegedly with two minors around the town market.

They were also made to wear signs reading: “Ako’y drug pusher, ‘wag tularan,” (“I’m a drug pusher, don’t imitate”) allegedly even before formal complaints were filed.

The suspects’ relatives begged innocence and poverty as an excuse for some illegal doings.  

In 20112, Halili imposed the” walk of shame” on a suspected fish thief. He claimed later that fear of same fate deterred the commission of crime in the market area. The suspected fish thief later apologized allegedly.

Human right advocates however protested, claiming the incident with the suspected drug dealers need a thorough investigation.             

Domogan however said there is no accomplishment whatsoever in doing such (walk of shame).  – Julie G. Fianza