President Duterte is prepared to suspend or dismiss local government officials who have “superstar complex” but fail to combat illegal drugs and crimes in their areas.
The President argued that he might not have supervision, nor control, over local government executives but he could still pin down erring officials for neglect of duty.
“I can either suspend you or I can just dismiss you from the service,” Duterte said during a security assembly in Pasay City last Tuesday night.
“So kung may crime, the crime is repeatedly committed, mga droga. Patatanggalan kita talaga ng pulis. May mga — itong mga — superstar complex kasi ‘yan eh. Lalo na ‘yung matagal na, family of politicians,” he added.
Duterte said he could slap such penalties against erring officials without waiting for any decision from the Office of the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan.
“Ang Ombudsman kaya niyang gawin. Ang Sandiganbayan kaya rin niyang gawin. ‘Di unahan ko na kayo. Bakit pa ako maghintay? I will just suspend you, for as long as itong mayor na may control sa pulis,” he added.
Last June, the President threatened to strip the mayors of their supervision and control over the police if they fail to improve peace and order situation in their areas.
Duterte said mayors who are not doing their job would face charges of neglect of duty and eventual dismissal from their post. The police could temporarily become the “mayors” in terms of addressing the peace and order problems in their towns, he added.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año has already been directed to conduct an audit on the performance of the local government officials. (GK)
