Governors, mayors face suspension over failure of anti-drug campaign

GOVERNORS and mayors who fail to eliminate or at least reduce the spread of illegal drugs in their respective areas by the end of the year will face administrative charges and, if found guilty, be suspended.

Interior Secretary Ismael Sueño made the announcement when he visited the office of the Department of Interior and Local Government in Central Visayas (DILG-7) in Cebu City Tuesday morning.

He said he was given the authority by President Rodrigo Duterte to file charges of serious neglect of duty against local chief executives who refused to cooperate in their nationwide campaign against illegal drugs.

“By the end of December—the sixth month since our intensified campaign against illegal drugs started, we will go after mayors and governors in areas where illegal drugs are still rampant. And we will suspend them,” Sueño told reporters.

“Inept” local executives, he said, may also lose their National Police Commission (Napolcom) deputation which gives them direct operational supervision over police units in their jurisdiction.

Under the law, Sueno said local chief executives are mandated to eradicate problems on drugs in their area of jurisdiction.

If local executives cannot perform their mandate of eradicating the drug menace, he said, it is considered a failure on the part of governors and mayors to carry out their mandate and responsibilities.