PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to dismiss and charge village chiefs who fail to perform their duties in curbing criminality and illegal drugs.
Duterte made the statement after administering the mass oath taking of nearly 2,000 village captains across Northern Mindanao at a mall here Monday, June 25.
He said he will charge village officials with neglect and gross neglect of duties aside from will booting them out upon recommendation of Interior Sectretary Eduardo Año.
“Kayo captains do what is your duty...If you cannot do it and records will show na yung crime rate mataas pati droga then I will charge you with neglect and next time is gross neglect and I will simply upon recommendation of General Año, if he said you should go, I will dismiss you,” Duterte said.
Duterte also challenged village officials to join the police in carrying out his order to arrest loiterers or “tambays.”
The chief executive of the land said the mayor or the barangay captain can order or issue a regulation to protect public health, public safety, public order, to protect the general welfare of the people.
Duterte said he will not back down in the crackdown against tambays until the Supreme Court says it is illegal.
“Frisking them to me is legal until the Supreme Court says it is illegal,” he said.
“I am invoking the police power of the state to establish order, safety that is not subject to a legislation. The president, mayor, barangay can order or issue regulation...” the president added.
Duterte said it is the obligation of the police, military and barangay officials to arrest loiterers, including minors and take them in custody overnight and release them to their families.
“Trabaho ninyo yan, pagka-minor damputin dalhin sa barangay then tawagin ang DSWD pakainin mga bata and release them in the morning. The barangay captain must deliver the child to the family and may konting kasaba (That is your job. If they are minors then haul them to the village hall, call the DSWD, and then release them in the morning. The village chief must release them to their families in the morning with a little scolding),” Duterte said.
The president instructed the law enforcers to ignore and not to believe the criticisms against the administration's anti-tambay drive.
Duterte is also considering arming the village chiefs with a 22 caliber pistol for self-defense which they can use in the performance of their duties.
He said he will look for resources as it will cost the government billions to purchase guns for the barangay captains.
“The fear of the barangay really is takot mag-confront kaya mag-issue siguro ako ng 22. I think .22 will do (The village officials are sometimes scared of confronting that is why I might issue them a gun. I think a .22 will do),” Duterte said while drawing applaud from the crowd.
However, Duterte said he will not allow village chiefs to own high-powered guns as he also warned them to carry their firearms legally.