UNDERSECRETARY Paul Oaminal of the Dangerous Drugs Board called Wednesday on citizens in the barangay nationwide to "organize themselves and rise against drugs."

This, in the event that their barangays officials and the Barangay Anti Drug Abuse Council refuse to act or fail to address the problem of drugs in their areas, Oaminal said.

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He cited that Badac, Madac and Cadac in a number of local government units are complying with the DILG Circular "only on papers" but realistically does not even meet to discuss on the problem on drugs.

"The primordial reason on this predicament is the fact that there are barangay officials who are fraternizing with drug pushers and peddlers as these have often become their milking cow," Oaminal said.

Further, Oamnial said there are officials who are just plainly cowards with issues on drugs, which the only solution is by replacing them during election or just resign.

It is ironic that instead of isolating these drug peddlers they have become allies with some officials, he noted.

Barangay officials during election period make it a point to know all the persons in the household so they could effectively gather votes, Oaminal pointed out, stressing that this political knowledge would result immediately to artificial amnesia when asked by the police or PDEA as to the drug personalities in their areas.

In lieu of this, a complementary drug enforcement structure in barangays called Alsa Batok Droga (Rise Against Drugs) was organized, Oaminal said.

The group will serve as a parallel force with Badac, which is composed of the barangay officials and ordinary citizens who are concern against drugs.

RAD will be spearheaded by retired police or military officers whose function is organize and train ordinary citizens in the gathering of information and proper reporting to authorities so police or PDEA agents could conduct actual arrest or drug raids.

The purpose of this move is to make the citizens realize that they are empowered and they are equally responsible with local officials in addressing the problems of drugs, Oaminal said, adding that he is currently drafting a manual for citizens as blueprint of RAD.