THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 and the Department of the Interior and Local Governement (DILG) warned that Mandaue City’s barangay officials will face charges if they fail to submit their drug watch lists.

This, as the 27 villages in the city continue to be affected by the drug problem, said Senior Supt. Julian Entoma, the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) director.

PDEA 7 said only two Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (Badac) submitted their new and updated drug watch list.

This was revealed during the DILG coordination meeting at the Mandaue City Police Office on Tuesday, Feb. 19.

Entoma said barangay officials may face charges for dereliction of duty before the Ombudsman. They may also be suspended.

The police official gave the Badacs until March 31 to submit their lists.

During the peace and order council meeting presided over by Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna, Entoma said the oversight committee on drug-clearing program had a hard time declaring even a single barangay as drug-free.

Entoma said all barangays are moderately affected by illegal drugs.

He said the drug-clearing program will start in the purok level and the evaluators will check if it is infested with pushers and users. (From FMD of SuperBalita Cebu, KAL)