By Romie A. Evangelista

Local government executives who have been remiss in doing their share of the campaign against drug trafficking will face criminal and administrative charges.

Interior Secretary Ronaldo Puno issued the warning yesterday as he reminded provincial governors, mayors and barangay chairmen of their duty under the law to allocate a substantial portion of their annual budget to fight the drug menace.

?Under Republic Act No. 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, local chief executives and members of the local legislative bodies are required to enact ordinances or amend existing ones to complement the provisions of this law,? Puno said.

The Interior chief has just issued a circular, which covers all provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays, except those in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, to ensure that the local anti-drug abuse councils are functioning and helping carry out the provisions of the law.

In his directive, Puno said all local chief executives may be administratively charged if they fail to act on adverse reports from the National Police or the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

These reports may refer to the illegal sale of narcotics, rampant delivery and use of such illegal drugs and the discovery of marijuana plantations, laboratories of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride) and other illegal substances in their jurisdiction. ?Such inaction, despite knowledge of the PDEA or PNP adverse reports, shall be considered prima facie evidence for the said administrative charges,? Puno said.

?And any local official engaged in the sale, delivery, transportation and use of illegal drugs or who may have benefited therefrom shall be dealt with criminally and administratively pursuant to RA 9165,? he said.

Puno emphasized that the failure of any local government unit to appropriate anti-drugs funds will be a ground for the disapproval of their respective annual budgets on review.