Erring barangay officials in Manila face suspension

The row of shanties comprising the Baseco compound in Manila. (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO / EDWIN BACASMAS)

MANILA, Philippines — Manila Mayor Isko Moreno filed on Tuesday a recommendation for the suspension of all Baseco barangay officials for dereliction of duty.

“We are submitting before the DILG [Department of the Interior and Local Government] that these barangay officials should be suspended for their non-performance of obligations, not even cooperating with the campaign of eliminating illegal activities in this corner of the city,” Moreno said in joint press conference with Manila Police District director Brig. Gen. Vicente Danao and DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing.

“Dalawa lang ang nasa isipan ko: They continue to deny because they participate in this illegal activities because maybe nakikinabang sila sa ganitong industriya, or talagang walang ginawa yung mga barangay officials sa Baseco na para payapain ang kanilang komunidad,” he added.

In a tally Danao presented during the conference, 63 firearms and several explosives were seized during the “Simultaneous Anti-Criminality and Law Enforcement Operations” (SACLEO) conducted on Sunday afternoon in Baseco.

A total of 722 individuals were also rounded up in violation of various city ordinances, 70 motorcycles were impounded, and 37 were arrested for drug-related cases.

Apart from the firearms and individuals arrested for drug cases, authorities also seized nine video karera machines found within the area of Baseco during the SACLEO.

He then urged the chairmen of barangays in Manila to cooperate with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority, Philippine National Police, and other authorities in resolving illegal activities in Manila. /jpv