DILG to file cases against officials in 16 barangays who failed to organize BADAC

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday vowed to file charges against officials in 16 barangays who failed to organize a Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) before the Ombudsman.

"Hopefully, 'pag labas ng preventive suspension 'yan, they can be disbarred from running. We will communicate with Comelec (Commission on Elections)," said Año, who added that the officials were reminded repeatedly through circulars.

Officials present copies of the narco list and the list of barangays that failed to organize BADACs. pic.twitter.com/BeSI9FAedL

— Rie Takumi (@rie_takumi) April 30, 2018

"We will ask for preventive suspension, the Ombudsman," DILG OIC Eduardo Año said at the PDEA-DDB headquarters.

Barangay chairpersons and barangay officials will face complaints of dereliction of duty and misconduct, to be filed by Interior Undersecretary Martin Diño and Assistant Secretary RJ Echiverri.

Año described BADAC as the primary body that must have a consolidated effort at the grassroots level to involve the community, private sector, and residents to remove illegal drugs from their area.

"Kung wala ka niyan, what's the problem with you? Bakit (walang) effort to convene BADAC from the time that you have held office in your current position?" he said.

Drugs list to be distributed

Año added that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency's (PDEA) list of barangay officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs will be distributed to regional offices which will then distribute it on a provincial and municipal level.

"The election period is from May 4 to May 12, ang campaign period, so starting now, we'll do that," he said, adding that the lists may even be posted on bulletin boards around barangays.

When asked if releasing the list may lead to cases of election-related deaths, he said, "Election period or not, tuloy-tuloy yung patayan na 'yan. Sinabi ko na sa inyo, napakahirap ma-involve sa drugs."

He later said, "Then, we can also ask the President rin to give (us) the authority to suspend depending on the severity of the case. Lahat 'yan pag-aaralan namin. We have plenty of time."

Año encouraged barangay officials on the narco list or those who fear for their lives to come forward and seek protection with the government.

"Come forward to us and we will help you. If these barangay captains are real, come to us, open up, and we will do something to help you," he said.

"We'll evaluate the case, we'll evaluate the situation, evaluate the person," he added. "Prove your worth; why do we have to help you?"

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said they will push through with the filing of cases "in due time" or "in a week or two" with the Ombudsman" and will release the list of names to the public soon.

Aquino said the names will be released after they gather more evidence for their case build-up to ensure that their cases are airtight. — RSJ, GMA News