Malabon barangay chairman in drug list faces charges

A barangay official included in the recently released ‘narco-list’ by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) faces charges for involvement in the illegal drug trade.
The PDEA on Friday submitted before the Office of the Ombudsman separate criminal and administrative charges against Alvin A. Mañalac, Punong Barangay of Barangay Tinajeros, Malabon City for alleged multiple violations of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
“The charges stemmed from the discovery of a clandestine laboratory in Barangay Tinajeros, Malabon City on April 13, 2018,” PDEA Director General Aaron N. Aquino was cited as saying in the statement.
“Failure of Mr. Mañalac, as barangay chairman, to identify oushers and users in his barangay prior to the search warrant implementation constitutes an act of being a protector or coddler,” he explained.
According to the statement, “additional charges were also filed against Mañalac for violation of Article 171 (Falsification by Public Officer, Employee, or Notary) of the Revised Penal Code; Gross Negligence and Dereliction of Duty under Section 60 of RA 7160; Gross Neglect of Duty, Grave Misconduct and Conduct Prejudicial to the Best Interest of the Service, the Local Government Code of 1991.”
It added: Mañalac has also violated Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation No. 2, Seies of 2004 in declaring Office of Barangay Tinajeros as Drug-Free Workplace in aabsence of a Drug-Free Workplace Committee and for his failure to submit documentary requirements for application of drug-free status.”
“This is to let the public know about the involvement in the illegal drug trade of the barangay leaders seeking for re-election, and will serve as a guide to the voting public on whom they shall entrust their votes,” Mr. Aquino said in the statement.
The PDEA drug list, released by the agency on April 30, contained a total of 207 names, 90 of which were village chiefs while 117 were of councilors. The officials named were from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), and Bicol region. – Dane Angelo Enerio