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PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT THRUST ---Cotabato City Mayor Frances Cynthia
Guiani-Sayadi presiding over the quarterly meeting of the city’s Peace and
Order Council last May 4. (PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY GOVERNMENT OF COTABATO –
MINDANAO EXPOSE’)
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COTABATO CITY ---Village officials here will be penalized
if they do nothing in containing the proliferation of illegal drugs in their
respective areas, a top local government official said.
Last
May 4, Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani Sayadi, chairperson of the City Peace
and Order Council (CPOC), announced the creation of a special committee
empowered to penalize erring village officials who have been turning "a
blind eye and deaf ears" on illegal drug activities in their localities.
The
Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BDAC) will be closely monitored by the
special oversight committee, she said.
Non-performing
village officials will be made accountable, Sayadi said.
During
Thursday's CCPOC meeting, Sayadi announced that the peace and order situation
of the city has greatly improved, with the number of crime incidents
dramatically reduced by about 50 percent compared to the same period last year.
Also
present during the meeting were Maj. Gen. Ariel dela Vega of the Army’s 6th
Infantry Division, and representatives from the police and the Philippine Drug
Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Speaking
to village officials present, Sayadi said: "If you cannot do your job for
one reason or another, just tell me. I will not hesitate to accept your
resignation."
Cotabato
City now is safer than ever, she said, adding that business confidence has been
restored, especially that the military-led Task Force Kutawato is in place.
Renewed commitment
The city government and law enforcement agency officials
have renewed their commitment to ensuring peace and security in Cotabato City
as they were in full attendance during the quarterly meeting of the City Peace
and Order Council last May 4.
In her speech, City Mayor Atty. Frances Cynthia
Guiani-Sayadi emphasized the role of every barangay official in securing the
different areas of the city.
She has enjoined their support and coordination to the
operations of the City Police Office, the Task Force Kutawato, and other law
enforcement agencies.
She has also announced the creation of the Oversight
Committee which will be tasked to oversee the activities of the Barangay Anti
Drug Abuse Council or BADAC.
Mayor Guiani-Sayadi said the committee will have the
power to recommend to her any administrative sanction to barangay officials who
will not do their role in the anti-illegal drugs campaign of the government.
"If you cannot do your job, for one reason or the
other, just tell me and I will not hesitate nor regret to accept your
resignation", the city mayor warned the barangay officials.
6th ID commander Maj. Gen. Arneldela Vega also reiterated
the military's support to the peace and security measures that Cotabato City is
implementing, saying that the city's programs can become a template to other
cities and municipalities with the strong interdependence among the different
government agencies.
"Natutuwanaginawanyokamingkabalikat sa mga programa
ng city government," Dela Vega said.
He also recognized the Moro Islamic Liberation Front’s commitment
to lasting peace and order as 105th Base commander UstadzZacariaGuma was also
in attendance.
Furthermore, Task Force Kutawato commander Col. Jose
Gongona, Jr. also gave a brief orientation to the council members of its
composition, its areas of responsibility, and its tasks.
Other reports on their accomplishments were also given by
City Police Director Senior superintendent Victor Valencia, Criminal
Investigation and Detection Group in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao
Chief Superintendent Allan James Logan, and PDEA-ARMM Director Bryan Babang.
Also in attendance during the meeting were the city's
department heads, barangay officials, the business communities, the media, and
others. (GILMHAR A. LAO & ANNE
ACOSTA &PNA – Cotabato & Cotabato City Government – MINDANAO EXPOSE’ )
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