MALACAÑANG on Thursday, January 11, sees nothing wrong with newly-appointed Local Government Secretary Martin Diño's directive to village executives to submit a roster of drug offenders in their respective areas.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said Diño, as undersecretary for barangay affairs of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), has the privilege to order village officials to furnish the latter a copy of their respective narco-lists.
"That's the mandate of the DILG because they have the jurisdiction over local governments. So let us allow the DILG to fulfill their duty," the presidential spokesman said in a television interview.
President Rodrigo Duterte appointed Diño as DILG undersecretary for barangay affairs on January 9.
A day after his appointment, Diño announced his plan to direct village executives to submit a list of individuals involved in the illegal drugs trade.
Village officials who fail to comply face sanctions, he warned.
Diño's pronouncement was in line with Duterte's strong will to end the rampant narcotics trade in the country.
Since Duterte assumed office in June 2016, thousands of individuals who were suspected to be involved in the illicit drugs sale have been killed by either responding police officers or vigilantes.
The rising number of purported drug suspects killed in police operations have sown fear among the public.
Roque ensured that due process would be observed, amid the proposed submission of drug list in each village.
"What will just be submitted is the list of names of drug personalities. I am certain that there will be investigation. So nothing will happen in the submission of names [of drug offenders]. The cases [against them] will have to be first submitted to the courts. ," he said.
"First of all, the DILG will vet its accuracy. And if it's accurate, there will be ways to remove local officials from office. Second, if there's evidence, a case will be filed before the court," he added. (SunStar Philippines)