DILG withdraws show-cause order vs Isko Moreno

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno speaking on his third state of the city address (Photo courtesy of Manila PIO)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has withdrawn its show-cause order against Manila Mayor Isko Moreno for the city government’s inadequate anti-illegal drugs campaign in 2018.

In a memorandum furnished to INQUIRER.net on Friday, Interior Undersecretary Ricojudge Janvier Echiverri said that the show-cause order is an “inadvertent re-issuance.”

“By virtue of this error and the guidance of policies and procedures of the Department, we are hereby withdrawing the document in issue,” Echiverri said.

READ: The DILG withdraws its show-cause order against Manila Mayor Isko Moreno for the Manila City government's failed mark in the 2018 Anti-Drug Abuse Council. @inquirerdotnet pic.twitter.com/r6LrKRm5wV

— Cathrine Gonzales (@cgonzalesINQ) August 5, 2021

Based on the memorandum, a show-cause order was first transmitted to the Manila city government in 2019 for its failed mark in the Anti-Drug Abuse Council audit for 2018.

Echiverri, however, said it reflected the poor performance of the local government unit under the previous mayor, Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

Echiverri said the show cause order later issued on July 9, 2021 was the second one sent to the LGU.

The DILG order dated July told Moreno that: “Based on our assessment and verification in the 2018 Anti-Drug Abuse Council performance audit, you have failed to comply with the policy and program mandated to your office, specifically in meeting the standards and complying with the measures set forth by the National Anti-Drug Abuse Council Audit as provided by the DILG-DDB Joint Memorandum Circular 2018001.”

Moreno, however, was elected Manila mayor in 2019 after he defeated Estrada.

Moreno was serving as undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in 2018.

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