DILG-6 wants surprise drug tests for barangay officials

By Rjay Zuriaga Castor

Following the arrest of barangay officials in separate anti-drug operations earlier this year, the Department of the Interior and Local Government in Western Visayas (DILG-6) is advocating unannounced mandatory drug tests for barangay officials and personnel.

DILG-6 Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero said Tuesday, April 21, that the agency, in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, is pushing for the implementation of drug-free workplace programs in barangays and municipalities.

“As far as those that have problematics barangays as chair of Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs, we are now advocating, that every barangay and every municipality conduct a drug-free workplace program with mandatory drug testing for everyone, from tanods to all officials, unannounced,” he emphasized.

He said the initiative has already started in Iloilo province, with the town of Balasan among the first to implement the program covering municipal and barangay personnel.

Ingeniero noted that drug testing costs remain a challenge, prompting the need for support and collaboration from provincial and local governments.

The call came after police reported that three barangay officials were arrested in separate anti-drug operations in Iloilo province.

Those apprehended included a barangay captain, a barangay kagawad, and a Sangguniang Kabataan chairman.

On Feb. 15, an incumbent barangay captain was arrested in Barangay Bondulan, San Dionisio, Iloilo, after authorities recovered more than PHP 1.5 million worth of suspected shabu.

Police said the village chief had been under surveillance for nearly two years following reports of alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

Also on Feb. 15, an incumbent barangay kagawad was among four individuals arrested in Barangay Licu-an, Dingle, Iloilo.

Police seized about 320 grams of suspected shabu valued at more than PHP 2.1 million during the operation.

On Feb. 20, authorities arrested an incumbent Sangguniang Kabataan chairman during a buy-bust operation in Barangay Ardemil, Sara, Iloilo.

The suspect, identified as alias “Mar,” 26, was tagged as a high-value individual after police seized more than PHP 2 million worth of suspected shabu.

Report suspicious activities

Ingeniero urged communities, especially those close to barangay officials allegedly linked to illegal drugs, to report suspicious activities to authorities.

“Do you know what it means to be indifferent? That is us. We see things happening but we do not report them,” he said.

“You know your friend, a kagawad, is using drugs, but you do not report it. Then later you say the kagawad is the problem—but you are also part of the problem,” he added.

He stressed that while the DILG does not condone such behavior, voters ultimately decide who gets elected.

Ingeniero said newly elected barangay officials, if elections are held this year, should learn from recent incidents and avoid repeating past mistakes.

“We will see to it that newly elected barangay officials will be shown what happened now, so they will understand that these are problems of the past that should not be copied or repeated,” he said.

He also challenged voters to be more discerning in choosing candidates.

“My question to the voting public is this: Will you still vote for individuals involved in illegal drugs? Will you vote for those with allegations of bad practices? It is up to you,” Ingeniero said.

He appealed to the public to help educate communities and report developments at the grassroots level to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for children.

Ingeniero added that if communities work together, no problem would be impossible to solve.