The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has formally filed administrative charges against barangay (village) officials who failed to set up anti-drug councils in their areas.
Interior Usec. Martin Di帽o and Asst. Sec. Ricojudge Janver Echiverri on Monday filed administrative complaints before the Ombudsman against officials of five barangays for failing to create the barangay anti-drug abuse council (Badac) for the past five years.
The complaints were filed against barangay captains of five Manila barangays, including: 471, 477, 482, 659-A, and 690.
Once found guilty of dereliction of duty, officials could be preventively suspended by the Ombudsman, the assistant secretary said.
Eleven more barangay officials鈥�10 from Aroroy, Masbate and one from Gubat, Sorsogon鈥攚ould be charged on Friday, Echiverri said.
He said the officials would be facing charges in violation of the Comprehensive Anti-Illegal Drugs Act, which compels village executives to form the Badac.
In a press briefing early Monday, Interior Officer-in-Charge Sec. Eduardo A帽o said the barangay officials had failed to set up the council despite several orders and warnings from the DILG.
鈥淲e want to send a strong message to the barangay on their important role in the anti-illegal drug campaign,鈥� A帽o said in a press briefing at the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) headquarters in Quezon City.
He explained that the Badac plays a huge role in the government鈥檚 fight against illegal drugs as it serves as the government鈥檚 primary body at the grassroots level.
鈥淸Para] magkaroon ka ng consolidated effort to fight crime involving community, private sector, residents, and barangay officials. Ganyan kaimportante siya,鈥� A帽o said.
(So that you can have a consolidated effort to fight crime involving community, private sector, residents, and barangay officials. That鈥檚 how important it is.)
鈥淜ung wala ka niyan, what鈥檚 the problem with you?鈥� he added.
(If you don鈥檛 have it, what is wrong with you?)
The move came two weeks before the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections that will be held on May 14.聽/je
搁贰础顿:听DILG to charge barangay execs for failing to fight drugs