DILG sues 51 mayors over unorganized, low performing anti-drug councils

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Wednesday filed complaints against 51 mayors over their alleged low performing or unorganized anti-drug abuse councils (ADAC).

Assistant Secretary Ricojudge Echiverri filed administrative charges of misconduct and dereliction of duty against the mayors before the Office of the Ombudsman.

Nine respondents are also allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade while having low functional ADACs, Echiverri said.

In his complaint-affidavit, Echiverri said the local government units were often reminded to activate, strengthen, and ensure the functionality of ADACs in their municipalities.

The DILG and the Dangerous Drugs Board have signed a joint memorandum on May 21, 2018 enjoining LGUs to form the ADACs.

However, Echiverri said these mayors failed to heed the call of the DILG and should therefore be disciplined, suspended, or removed from office.

"The failure of the respondent to create the local ADAC can be classified as a misconduct in office or a dereliction of duty which is among the grounds for discipline, suspension, or removal from office of a local official," the complaint read.

"The respondent committed an administrative offense by his deliberate refusal to create the local ADAC. Had it been that the respondent intended to comply, he/she can easily (organize) the local ADAC, but failed to do so," it added.

During his interview with reporters, Echiverri said a local government unit can be considered having a low performing ADAC if the LGU either failed to allocate a budget for the council, or if the mayor is not presiding over ADAC meetings, or there is lack of community-based rehabilitation centers.

Echiverri said unorganized ADACs, meanwhile, mean the LGU scored zero in the DILG's performance standards.

"We will leave it to the Ombudsman to decide kung pinakamababa is reprimand, one is suspension, or pinaka-worse is removal. Seryosohin nila yung pag-organize ng ADAC, which is provided by law," he said.

The DILG first filed administrative charges in connection with city or municipal ADACs on March 14, followed by another batch on March 20. —KBK, GMA News