Village officials told to help eradicate drug problems, maintain peace and order

INTERIOR Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr has told village officials to help in the government’s anti-drugs campaign and maintain peace and order.

He said village officials should help the police in maintaining public order and to utilize peace keepers in their respective communities.

“As the frontliners in government service, our barangay officials are in a very strategic position to help our police force in securing our kababayans. Our barangay tanods or Bantay Bayan serve as force multipliers of our uniformed personnel in ensuring peace and order and combating illegal drugs,” Abalos said.

He said it is the primordial duty of the village officials to protect the welfare of the public, adding the local government is mandated to enforce existing national laws. “Hindi lamang kayo katuwang ng kapulisan kundi kayo ay may mandato na siguruhin ang kaligtasan ng inyong mga nasasakupan,” he said.

Abalos reiterated his call to operationalize and strengthen the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils which render assistance to the law enforcement agencies in the eradication of illegal drugs.

Acknowledging that the village officials are the heart and core of government service, Abalos assured them the government will remain steadfast in capacitating local officials and ensure that they are fully equipped to perform the duties entrusted to them by the people.

“Focus on the work that you need to do, extend help to those who greatly need it, and be assured that whatever you may require in accomplishing this grand task, we will do our very best to provide for and assist with in any way that we can,” he said. (Mindanao Examiner)