(Eagle News)–The Department of the Interior and Local Government has filed charges against at least 45 mayors for failing to set up a local drug abuse council as required by law.
In a statement, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the charges for grave misconduct and gross dereliction of duty were filed against 25 mayors on Wednesday, March 20, and against 20 mayors on March 14 for “their refusal or neglect to organize their local ADAC.”
The DILG said these were the mayors in the following regions:
- 15 – Bicol Region, specifically in Albay, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon
- 7 – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, specifically in Basilan, Tawi-Tawi, and Lanao del Sur provinces
- 5 – Cordillera Administrative Region, particulatly in Abra and Ifugao provinces
- 5 – Mimaropa, all from Palawan province
- 4 – Central Visayas, all in Cebu province
- 3 – CARAGA, all in Agusan del Norte
- 3 – Calabarzon, particularly in Laguna and Quezon
- 2 – Cagayan Valley, one in Cagayan province and one in Nueva Vizcaya
- 1 – Eastern Visayas
According to Año, the administrative charges were apart from the charges filed against local government officials who figure in President Rodrigo Duterte’s narco-list.
Forty-six politicians–35 mayors, 7 vice mayor, one provincial member, and three congressmen—had been included in Duterte’s list.
