THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Davao Region warned it will file cases against barangay officials who will not cooperate in the anti-drug campaign dubbed as “Double Barrel Reloaded.”
“We will file criminal charges to the Ombudsman should they deviate,” PDEA Regional Director Adzhar Albani on Wednesday, March 29, said.
Albani said there have been a number of barangays in Davao Region who failed to submit updates and reports on the drug situation in their areas.
“Less than two percent of the barangays in the region do not heed to our mandate, we want to eradicate this situation,” he said.
He added the move is a part of strengthening the local governments' fight against illegal drugs.
Albani said the primary roles of each barangay in the drug operations include the reporting of updates on surrenderees, drug situation, and the establishment of community rehabilitation centers.
“Each local government unit is expected to come up with community rehabs in different barangays. This helps us account the surrenderees to properly monitor them. If hindi kaya ng community center (If the community center can’t make it), that's where we transfer them to a formal rehabilitation center,” he said.
Albani said out of the 31 barangays in Davao City, 24 have been recommended to be declared cleared.
He added the list is not yet final due to some changes.
“So far, we have recommended 24 barangays in Davao City as cleared pero hindi pa yun considered final because according to the new circular order, the clearing of every barangay should be approved by the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health and Philippine National Police,” he added.
Albani said once approved by the agencies, the barangay is considered cleared or “free from drug pushers and users.”
