CEBU CITY –The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Assistant Secretary for External and Legislative Affairs Ricojudge Janvier Echiverri has called on village officials to establish their Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Badac) soonest otherwise they will be facing charges in court.
Echiverri made his appeal on Saturday during the “Rehabinasyon” Road Tour at the Gaisano Mactan Island Mall in Lapu-Lapu City.
He said the barangays must already have their Badac as they are only waiting for the “go” signal of DILG Secretary Eduardo Año to file the cases against the village officials who have not yet formed their anti-drug councils.
Echiverri said there are around 2,000 barangays in the country which have no anti-drug council yet.
Echiverri also urged Cebuanos to vote for candidates who have the courage to combat illegal drugs in the upcoming May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.
“Maghalal kayo ng mga kandidatong hindi duwag at may malasakit sa kapwa (Vote for candidates who are courageous and compassionate),” Echiverri said.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) acting Deputy Director Vince Plaza also called on barangay officials to help the government in the fight against illegal drugs.
“Kung di motabang and katawhan, di gyud nato masulbad ang problema sa drogas (If the people won’t help, we could not solve our problem with drugs),” Plaza said. “Pipila ra ang atong kapolisan ug mga tawo sa PDEA (We have barely enough policemen and PDEA personnel). So, please help us,” he added.
The “Rehabinasyon” Road Tour in Cebu was spearheaded by Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs and the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO).
PCOO Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping III said the “Rehabinasyon” campaign aims to harmonize all anti-illegal drugs efforts of the national government and enable barangay officials, local government units, and local law enforcement agencies to have the mechanisms to solve the problem on illegal drugs.
Other resource speakers in the event include Dangerous Drugs Board Undersecretary Marlowe Pedregosa, and Assistant Secretary Aurora Ignacio of the Office of the President.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza welcomed the participants of the “Rehabinasyon” Cebu leg which was attended by local officials of national government agencies, local government officials, members of the local Philippine National Police, and barangay officials from the cities of Cebu, Lapu-Lapu, and Mandaue and municipalities of Consolacion and Cordova. (Luel Galarpe/PNA)
