PDEA-6 to block budget of brgys that don't fight drugs

CEBU, Philippines - The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Region 6 is taking its campaign against illegal drugs to the next level.

Lawyer Ronnie Delicana, chief of PDEA6 legal division, said they will ask the city and municipal councils in the region to hold the budget of barangays that fail to comply with the directive of the Department of Interior and Local Government to identify drug-affected areas in their respective jurisdictions.

Memorandum Circular No. 2009-09 entitled “Unified Actions Against Illegal Drugs and Other Substances” mandates all barangay captains to identify “drug affected house cluster, work places, streets, puroks, and sitios where delivery, sale or use of illegal drugs are being conducted and to report the same immediately to the PDEA or the PNP.”

Barangay officials are also mandated to assist and cooperate with the police in operations against illegal drugs.

As of now, however, Delicana said none of the 4,048 barangays in Western Visayas has submitted a report.

The PDEA asked the Philippine Postal Corporation to also support the campaign.

“We would give them time to comply, say 45 days. If they could not come up with their written action plan, we would write to the Sangguniang Bayan concerned, where they let their budget approved, to block their annual budget,” he said.

Delicana said evidence(s) from successful anti-drug operation in barangays that did not comply with the DILG circular may be used as prima facie evidence against the barangay officials concerned.

“We will charge them for dereliction of duty,” Delicana said.

He said there should be no reason for barangay officials to fear drug syndicates because keeping drugs away from their barangays is a major responsibility.

“It is their responsibility. In the very first place, why did you run as barangay chairman if you’re afraid to comply with your obligation?” he said. He challenged barangay captains to vacate their post if they feel they are not brave enough to do their job right.

Under the law, local government executives are obligated to allocate a substantial portion of their annual budgets for the anti-drug campaign.

Aside from the laws on budget and plans of actions, local officials – from governors down to village chiefs – should also ensure that their respective anti-drug abuse councils are functioning and that the provisions of the anti-dangerous drugs law are being strictly enforced at their respective levels. – THE FREEMAN