THE top official Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Bacolod City has expressed support to the proposal to require all barangay officials to undergo a mandatory drug testing.

This, after a councilman of Barangay Alijis in the city was earlier arrested and charged for violation of illegal drugs.

Ma. Joy Marideth Madayag, head of DILG-Bacolod, said barangay officials should serve as an example to their constituents and intensify their campaign against illegal drugs within their barangays.

“They should be a role model to their constituents. We have our Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Badac) so they should be responsible for their actions,” she said.

On November 8, 2022, Abby Araneta, 28, councilman of Barangay Alijis, and her companion, Freely Boy Aldas, 39, of Barangay Mansilingan, were arrested in a drug bust operation by operatives of City Drug Enforcement Unit (CDEU) at Alijis-Taculing Road in the city.

The operatives also seized an estimated P1.3 million worth of suspected shabu from the suspects.

Councilor Lady Gles Pallen, president of Liga ng mga Barangay, earlier said that they are planning to require all barangay officials to undergo drug tests as well as the barangay workers to determine if they engage in illegal drugs.

She said they are hopeful that this will serve as a lesson to all the barangay officials not to engage in illegal drugs.

Moreover, Madayag said the case is still on-going and they will wait for the decision if Araneta will be dismissed from her post.

“We should follow due process. Once dismissed, her position will be declared vacant and the village council will submit its recommendation to occupy Araneta’s post,” she said.

Since Araneta was detained and failed to attend the village council’s session, she added, the barangay official will not be receiving her honorarium.

The barangays should strengthen its Badac to be a drug free barangay, the DILG official stressed.