Friday, August 29, 2008 Lito Ruiz to organize anti-drug councils
AMID a discord with barangay officials over his organizing barangay intelligence networks (BIN) in Lapu-Lapu City, Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Lito Ruiz has another project – the creation of an anti-drug abuse council.
“Kung dili sila makahimo ako mismo ang magtukod (I’ll create the council myself),” he said. He said local officials appeared to be uninterested in the fight against illegal drugs.
But Assistant City Attorney Michael Dignos warned Ruiz against meddling in local affairs, saying even his BIN does not have the legal personality because it is without the consent of the barangay officials.
“Either he deliberately misinterpreted the memorandum circular on creating the BIN or he failed to comprehend its legal context,” Dignos said.
Dignos said what Ruiz is doing is a usurpation of official function, as the authority to organize BIN is given to barangay officials according to the circular.
The Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) believed Ruiz is organizing a political base in every barangay, and to avoid being accused of early politicking he named it as BIN separate from the one organized by the barangay officials.
He has BIN in almost all 19 barangays in the mainland and is expected to organize more in the 11 barangays of Olango Island.
The memorandum circular creating a city anti-drug abuse council (Cadac) was issued in 2005. It is to be chaired by the local chief executive and function as a policy-making body. Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Arturo Radaza has yet to implement it.
Ruiz said the worsening illegal drug problem in Lapu-Lapu made him eager to lead the war against it. (AIV)
