THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Department of Interior and Local Government have filed criminal and administrative charges against a barangay official from Malabon City before the Office of the Ombudsman for alleged involvement in illegal drug trade.
Director General Aaron Aquino said Barangay Tinajeros chairman Alvin Mañalac could be held liable for violation of Section 5 in relation to Section 3 (ee) (protector/coddler), Section 6 (maintenance of a drug den) and Section 8 (manufacture of dangerous drugs and/or controlled precursors and essential chemicals) in relation to Section 39 (ee), and Section 32 (liability to a person violating any regulation issued by the board) of Republic Act 9165 or “The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
He said Mañalac was in the PDEA’s narco-list.
Director Ismael Fajardo Jr., PDEA-National Capital Region director, and Undersecretary Martin Diño of the Department of Interior and Local Government personally filed the complaint against the barangay official with the Ombudsman.
Aquino said: “The charges stemmed from the discovery of a clandestine laboratory in Barangay Tinajeros, Malabon City on April 13, 2018.
“Failure of Mr. Mañalac as barangay chairman to identify pushers and users in his barangay prior to the search warrant implementation constituted an act of being a protector or coddler.”
He said Mañalac also violated Article 171 (falsification by public officer, employee or notary) of the Revised Penal Code, gross negligence and dereliction of duty under Section 60 of RA 7160, gross neglect of duty, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, Local Government Code of 1991 and Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 2, Series of 2004 .
“Respondent Alvin Mañalac failed to take appropriate measures to implement provisions of RA 9165, including abatement of nuisances as mandated by Memorandum Circular No. 2009-09 dated January 29, 2009 issued by the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government,” Fajardo said.
“This is to let the public know about the involvement in the illegal drug trade of the barangay leaders seeking for re-election, and will serve as a guide to the voting public on whom they shall entrust their votes,” Aquino said.
He said the filing of the case would assure the public that the evidence was strong as a result of a thorough case build-up.