While the projected campaign of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to place “drug free” stickers on selected houses whose occupants are identified as non-drug users and/or reformed drug addicts is the opposite of the previous controversial “spray paint shame campaign” with words like “This is a house of a drug pusher!”, both are offensive to reputations and unconstitutional.

Households which are not recipients of the “drug free” stickers are exposed to embarrassment and ridicule since their members may be wrongfully presumed to be drug-pushers or users.

Shaming is inflicted without due process and it is anathema to the rule of law which guarantees that a person should not suffer any stigma or sanction without a fair trial.

The Court of Appeals in 2000 declared as unconstitutional Manila’s spray-painting shame ordinance for violating the constitutional guarantees on presumption of innocence and equal protection.

A laudable intention cannot be pursued by illegal and improper means.

The reputation of persons and families should not be left to the discretion of local peace and order councils which may have their own biases and favoritisms.

The correct policy is to arrest and prosecute prohibited drug offenders once they are known and identified based on evidence.

EDCEL C. LAGMAN