Lawyer claims: San Francisco has drug council

CEBU, Philippines — The legal counsel of San Francisco, Camotes Mayor Aly Arquillano has prepared the camp’s response to the charges the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has filed against him for allegedly failing to organize the town’s Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC).

Lawyer Edmund Lao said the camp is planning to relay its response directly to the DILG head office in Manila today.

“Atong clarification regarding sa allegation nga wala matukod ang katong Anti-Drug Abuse Council will be submitted on Monday. Aron mas mapaklaro nila nga in fact it’s the opposite nga naay klaro nga Anti-Drug Abuse Council didto sa ilahang munisipyo,” he told reporters on Sunday.

Reportedly, the town mayor was asked to respond to the administrative charges filed against him.

Last March, the DILG filed administrative cases before the Office of the Ombudsman against 51 mayors - including three chief executives from Cebu - San Francisco, San Fernando and Toledo City - over their “unorganized” and “low functioning” ADAC’s.

Lao said the ADAC at the town is actually active but reportedly the documents from the municipality regarding its operation were not relayed to the DILG head office.

“Allegedly wala sila ka-organize sa ilang ADAC. Ang nahitabo kaning focal person sa kaning pagtukod and pag-activate sa kaning Anti-Drug Abuse Council... maoy wala naka-completely naka-submit man sa records. Now if na submit pa lang to completely ang records it will be established nga naa silay (ADAC) in place,” he said.

He defended the town mayor saying that the administration he is leading is even known for its creativity and innovations in governance.

He added the administration even introduced the “purok system,” as one of its anti-drug projects at the town that eventually went successful.

Unfortunately, these accomplishments were not properly reported and completely submitted to the DILG officer in Manila, Lao said.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III had earlier defended the town mayor in San Francisco because, upon his consultation with the department heads, the town has complied with the requirements set by Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO).

He said the LGU in San Francisco is even categorized already as a drug-cleared town.

After the news broke out on March 27, Davide met with CPADAO Chief Carmen Remedios “Ivy” Durano-Meca and DILG Cebu Provincial Director Jerome Gonzales.

The governor emphasized that San Francisco has been compliant, meaning it has organized its own ADAC, and it has set substantial sum or amount to fund its local anti-drug programs and initiatives. (FREEMAN)