Maguindanao village chieftain sued by PDEA

THE PHILIPPINE Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) filed administrative charges before the Office of the Ombudsman against an incumbent village chieftain in the troubled Muslim province of Maguindanao for his alleged failure to activate the Barangay Anti-drug Abuse Council (BADAC).

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said Jamil S. Dilabaken, of Mataya village in Buldon town has been charged with gross negligence and dereliction of duty. He said Dulabaken violated Section 60 of Local Government Code, in relation to Section 19 of Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation No. 3 Series of 2017, otherwise known as “Strengthening the Implementation of the Barangay Drug-clearing Program”.

According to Aquino, failure to allocate funds in anti-drug efforts shall be a ground for disapproval of their annual budget and possible filing of appropriate charges pursuant to the local government code and anti-drug law.

“In case of failure of the local officials to conform to the duties as mandated in the barangay drug-clearing program shall also be a ground for the filing of appropriate charges of gross negligence and dereliction of duties,” he said.

BADACS’ main role is to assist law enforcement agencies in the eradication and clearing operation of illegal drugs. They were deputized to plan and implement strategic policies, programs and projects on drug prevention and control, given the political and police powers of the villge to administer the affairs of the community.

In accordance with the DDB regulation, all local government units are enjoined to appropriate a substantial portion of their annual budgets for barangay drug-clearing operations, including the activation of BADACS.

The Department of the Interior and Local government had issued a similar memorandum, and at the same time admonished the non-compliant barangay officials to establish functional BADACS through letters, but those warnings were not heeded.

“PDEA reiterates its call for all barangays not only activate but also strengthen their BADACS, which are deemed important in maintaining a pro-active stand in shielding the people from the drug menace,” Aquino said.

There was no immediate statement from the town mayor or the provincial governor on why they failed to monitor whether the village has organized its own BADAC.