MikeLigalig.com

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo on Wednesday asked local government units (LGUs), particularly the barangays, to support the government’s anti-drug campaign.

Robredo also warned his office would impose sanctions against barangay officials who would refuse to act as witnesses in the government’s anti-drug campaign, particularly in the implementation of search or arrest warrants against known drug pushers and drug dens in their areas.

The DILG chief issued the warning amid reports coming from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) that some village officials in Metro Manila refuse to act as witnesses in their anti-drug drive.

Robredo cited Section 60 of the Local Government Code of 1991 that states that the DILG Secretary can discipline, suspend or remove from office any local government official, including barangay officials, for dereliction of duty.

During a consultative meeting with the local peace and order council of Quezon City led by Mayor Herbert Bautista the other day, Director Wilkins Villanueva told the DILG chief of their predicament with barangay captains in their anti-drug campaign.

“It is the duty of barangay officials to act as witnesses in the implementation of all our search warrants, especially in known drug dens and tianggehans. But some of them refuse to go with us, afraid of the people who are subject of the warrants. In other occasions, the subjects of the warrant are their relatives,” Villanueva said.

In response, the DILG chief said one of the duties and functions of the barangay officials was to “enforce all laws and ordinances which are applicable within their areas and perform duties and functions that are prescribed by law” for the maintenance of peace and order.

Robredo assured Villanueva that the DILG would issue a corresponding memorandum to all barangay officials next week to remind them that it is part of their obligation to help and assist government law enforcement authorities perform their functions and duties.

The DILG chief said it is the priority of President Benigno Aquino III to address the growing illegal drug problem in the country.

Three weeks ago, Robredo said, the DILG sent a team to the PDEA office to discuss improved coordination between the DILG, the PDEA and local chief executives in the implementation of the government’s anti-drug campaign. (PNA) - pna

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=37315.0