MAGALANG, Pampanga—“Resign now!”
This is the advise of Pampanga Gov. Lilia G. Pineda to barangay officials if they do not have what it takes to stop the proliferation of illegal drugs in their areas.
The governor said barangay officials should not take for granted the huge problem on illegal drugs. “Hindi sila dapat tatamad-tamad at papatay-patay sa kanilang tungkulin na protektahan ang kanilang mga kabarangay laban sa illegal na droga,” Pineda said.
The provincial government has spent millions of pesos for the almost semiannual seminars and summit on illegal drugs in the province, but the governor said she is disappointed with the performance of local officials when it comes to fighting illegal drugs.
Hence, Pineda urged the Department of the Interior and Local Government to issue a memorandum to all barangay officials from barangay chairmen to members of the barangay councils stating that they will be held liable in court and will be charged administratively if drug pushers, drug lords or drug laboratories will be found in their villages.
She said barangay officials should not be afraid in solving the drug problem in their communities.
“We should fight illegal drugs even if it would cost us our lives. Itataya ko ang buhay ko. Kung mamatay man tayo at least may kabuluhan ang naging buhay natin,” the governor added.
The governor made the statement during the blessing and inauguration of the Pampanga Drug Rehabilitation Center, called “Bale Pamagbayu,” which will occupy two dormitories at the Central Luzon Drug Rehabilitation Center in this town.
Since Pineda assumed office, she regularly met with all local officials, including mayors, vice mayors, Sangguniang Bayan members, barangay officials, bantay-bayan and barangay health workers, to make them aware of the province’s all-out war against illegal drugs.
“The fight against illegal drugs is everybody’s responsibility. Let us act now,” the governor said.
To empower the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Pampanga provincial government provided P7 million for the construction of PDEA Regional Office in Central Luzon.
“This is to make them more convenient and focus in arresting drug lords, pushers and finding shabu laboratories in Pampanga and even in Central Luzon,” she added.
Image credits: Jun Jaso