THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Negros Occidental is urging the public to vote for the right leaders in the May 14 barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) or Youth Council elections.
DILG provincial director Carmelo Orbista told the public to choose candidates who possess the character and leadership qualities which are important to carry out meaningful peace and development initiatives in the communities.
This is in lieu of the DILG's nationwide campaign “Matino, Mahusay, at Maaasahang” to guide the voters in choosing their leaders.
The DILG is advocating for leaders who are not corrupt.
The basic political unit comes from the barangay, therefore, the voters should elect the right leaders for the barangay because there are questions in the performance of some barangay leaders in the implementation of existing laws on illegal drugs, criminality, extremism, among others, Orbista said.
He also reminded them to stay non-partisan as provided under the Local Government Code.
“They should not have political parties and should remain neutral. Our law is very clear on this,” he said.
Anti-drug campaign
Orbista said the campaign against illegal drugs in the province continues.
The Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Badac) is headed by the village chief.
“So right now, we are monitoring if who are these barangay leaders who regularly submit their drugs watchlists, naming illegal drug users, pushers and protectors in their respective barangays,” he said.
“He still has to see their compliance,” he added.
The field officers of the DILG see to it that these barangay officials comply with the Badac requirement.
They also have a target insofar as drug clearing is concerned, this is what they are working on, he said.
One of the indicators for the BADAC to be functional is for them to submit their reports, he said.
Anybody can file administrative charges against their barangay leaders who are not performing this function, he said.
“We don't have the lists of those barangay officials who are linked to illegal drugs. It is up to the voters to choose their leaders. Everybody knows everybody in the barangay, so the voters should know well if their barangays leaders have leanings or linkage to illegal drugs,” he said.