After 2018 show-cause order, Manila’s anti-drug drive now gets DILG’s OK
(FILE) Manila Mayor Isko Moreno presents five suspects in a Cavite drug bust led by Manila Police District during a press briefing in Manila City Hall on Monday. (Photo from Manila PIO)
MANILA, Philippines — After issuing Manila Mayor Isko Moreno a show-cause order last July for the city’s poor performance against illegal drugs in 2018, or a year before he assumed the city’s mayorship, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is now lauding the Manila Anti-Drug Council for its accomplishments.
Manila participated in the 2021 Anti-Drug Council (ADAC) Performance Audit under the Highly Urbanized City category.
The audit results revealed that Manila got a score of 85 over 100 for its anti-drug efforts, indicating that the city’s anti-drug council is “highly functional,” according to a letter addressed to Moreno dated September 7 and released to the media on Friday.
“The ADAC Regional Audit Team (ART) commends the Council for its accomplishments in introducing new ideas or innovation which added value in the implementation of the anti-illegal drugs programs,” NCR regional director Maria Lourdes Agustin wrote.
Moreno thanked the DILG-NCR for the recognition.
“We respect the rights of people but we will also not tolerate any wrongdoing in Manila,” Moreno said in a statement.
The show-cause order earlier issued by the DILG cited Moreno’s alleged failure to comply with Joint Memorandum Circular 2018-01, or the Implementing Guidelines on the Functionality and Effectiveness of Local Anti-Drug Abuse Councils.
Moreno however, was serving as an undersecretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in 2018 and only became Manila mayor when he ran and won against former President Joseph Estrada in 2019.
The DILG later recalled the show-cause order against Moreno and has since apologized saying that it was an “honest mistake.”
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