DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer-in-charge Eduardo Año said on Wednesday, June 27, that they will audit the accomplishments of local government officials in relation to the government's campaign against illegal drugs and criminality.
Año said the auditing of the local government officials from governor down to barangay chairmen was ordered by President Rodrigo Duterte to ensure they are doing their mandate and not using their position for their own interest.
"Gusto n'ya kasi seryoso ang pagseserbisyo. Kung ikaw ay tumakbo bilang local government official, mayor at barangay captain, barangay kagawad eh hindi pwede ang kalokohan. Dapat tunay na pagseserbisyo lang ang maging motivation at maging goal mo bakit ka tumakbo," he said.
He said the auditing is part of their program dubbed "Bantay kaagapay, Bantay Korapsyon."
Año said that aside from identifying and reviewing the LGU officials' efforts on war on drugs and the maintenance of peace and order in their area, they will also look over the complaints of the public which they received through their hotline 888 against the governors, mayors or barangay captains.
He said they will compile the complaints of each LGU official which will be the basis of their investigation against them.
Año said they will also identify how the LGUs spent their intelligence funds which are intended in order for them to gather information in their communities which will be helpful for the police as well as the military particularly in the anti-drugs and criminality and anti-insurgency operations.
"We will make an audit of their performance and how they spend also their resources in cooperation with COA (Commission on Audit)," he said.
He reiterated that the local executives that they are the primary responsible in the enforcement and implementation of local ordinances in their areas of jurisdiction.
Año said it will also be part of the auditing.
"So itong peace and order trabaho yan kahit tingnan natin sa local government code tumutulong ang pulis at armed forces pero sila 'yung mag-iinitiate ng lahat ng actions para kung hindi man mawala ay mapababa ang crime lalo na 'yung droga, isama na rin natin lahat pati pagbabantay ng kalsada," he said.
Earlier, Duterte ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to beef up operations aimed at clearing the streets of "tambays" or loiterers to ensure public safety and peace and order in the community.
The PNP was criticized for arresting mere loiterers. The anti-tambay operations also caused outrage after the death of Genesis Argoncillo.
Argoncillo was arrested on June 15 for being shirtless in public. Four days later, he was dead after he was allegedly mauled by fellow detainees at the Novaliches Police Station. (VoxPop Philippines)