This was newly-appointed Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) undersecretary Martin Diño’s new directive to barangay (village) officials as he vowed to step up their involvement in the government’s massive campaign against illegal drugs.

“I will make sure that all the barangays all over the Philippines will be fighting against illegal drugs,” Diño said in an ambush interview on Tuesday.

Diño was present at the turnover ceremony of the now Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) chairman Catalino Cuy to the newly-minted DILG officer in charge Eduardo Año at the DILG National Police Commission (Napolcom) in Quezon City.

“I will ask all the barangays to submit a list of suspected drug pushers, suspected criminals in their respective barangays. This time, may sanction kapag hindi nakapagsubmit (if they don’t submit),” Diño said.

He said he will consult his legal team about the sanctions the DILG could impose against non-compliant barangay officials.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday appointed the former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman four months after he was replaced by appointed lawyer Wilma Eisma as both SBMA chairman and administrator. /je