Diño accepts DILG post

Former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Martin Diño on Wednesday confirmed that he was offered a post at the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

At a press conference in Manila, Diño said he was offered by Malacañang the position of DILG undersecretary for barangay affairs.

A former barangay chairman, Diño said he has accepted the job, which was first disclosed by Acting Interior Secretary Catalino Cuy.

Once he assumed the new post, Diño said he is going to direct all barangays to submit a report on the illegal drug situation in their area within one week or risk facing sanctions.

"Pag hindi mo binigay ang report within the week, may warning ka na. Pag hindi mo binigay ang report on the next week, may suspension ka na. At kapag hindi mo ginawa yan on the third week ay ire-recommend na kita for removal from office dahil may kapangyarihan ang DILG na gawin yan," he said.

He also wants deeper engagement between police and barangays in the fight against criminality.

"Ibabalik natin ang barangay at pulis laban sa krimen na kung saan kapag nagkaroon ng operasyon ang ating mga kapulisan kailangan nasa tabi niya ang barangay captain, barangay kagawad para [kung] magkaroon man ng encounter, ang mismong barangay ang magsi-certify kung may nangyaring encounter at legitimate ang operation," Diño said.

Recalling his stint with the SBMA, Diño said he discovered disadvantageous contracts entered into by the agency and existence of a ''floating shabu laboratory" in Subic waters.

"Yung drug laboratory sa dagat, doon ginagawa sa bapor na nakaangkla sa Subic. Doon ginawa ang laboratoryo ng shabu. Kaya hindi malayo na mangyari sa loob ng Subic yan. At ngayon may PDEA [Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency office] na sa Subic," he said.

Diño was replaced by SBMA administrator Wilma Eisma as SBMA chairperson after Duterte issued Executive Order 42, which repealed Executive Order 340 of former President and now Pampanga Representative Gloria Macapagal Arroyo that separated the powers and duties of the SBMA chairperson and administrator.

Diño, who was with the SBMA for 11 months, said he has no resentment over his departure from SBMA and that he remained supportive of the President and his programs.

"Tinatanggap ko po kung anuman ang gusto ng ating Presidente. Congratulation dun sa kanyang in-appoint. Wala akong sama ng loob. Ako po'y masaya sa naging trabaho ko sa Subic and again ikinalulugod ko ang tiwala sa atin ng Pangulo," he said.

However, the former SBMA official said he should have been given a heads up about his removal from the post. —ALG/KVD/RSJ, GMA News