QUEZON CITY (Eagle News) — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) newly appointed undersecretary Martin Diño said Tuesday that he will order all barangay executives to submit a list of drug personalities in their areas of responsibility.
According to him, this was to ensure that local officials are involved and cooperative in the government’s war against illegal drugs.
“I will make sure that all the barangays all over the Philippines will be fighting illegal drugs,” Diño said in an interview.
He also said that barangay officials are the government’s first line of defense as they know or should know everything that is happening in their respective barangays.
He noted that the at least 5 million barangay officials in the country would be a big help in addressing problems on illegal drugs.
According to Diño, non-compliant barangay officials will receive sanctions from the government. He said will consult his legal team about the sanctions the DILG could impose against those who would fail to submit the list.
The undersecretary was present at the turnover ceremony of the now Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) head Catalino Cuy to the new DILG officer-in-charge Eduardo Año at the DILG National Police Commission (Napolcom) in Quezon City.
The new DILG officer-in-charge Eduardo Año had earlier asked members of DILG team to fulfill their duties well and give satisfactory service to the public.