DILG says Bayan Muna’s claim local chief execs coerced to support anti-terror is ”an affront and insult”

June 17, 2020

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Wednesday belied the accusation of Bayan Muna partylist group that local chief executives (LCEs) are being coerced to support the Anti-Terrorism Bill.

Interior Undersecretary and DILG spokesperson Jonathan Malaya called the accusation ''an affront and insult'' to local government executives nationwide.

“Bayan Muna’s claim that LGUs are being forced into supporting the Anti-Terrorism Bill is complete falsehood and an affront and insult to the dignity, intelligence, and integrity of all local government officials nationwide who have freely expressed their support to the bill that was passed recently by Congress,” Malaya said.

Malaya clarified that LGUs are endowed with local autonomy under the 1987 Constitution.

“Therefore, they are not under the control of the DILG. We only ensure that they comply with laws, rules and regulations. So how can Bayan Muna claim that the DILG is forcing them? We cannot and have not done so,” he said.

He said the group should not look down on LGUs and assume that they cannot think for themselves.

Malaya added that LGUs heed the call of their constituents to end terrorism.

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año commended the 784 local chief executives for making a genuine stand in support of the Anti-Terrorism Bill despite the massive disinformation campaign against it.

“Once signed by the President (Rodrigo Duterte), it will become a landmark law that will need the support of the LGUs that’s why we are glad that as early as now a lot are expressing their support,” Año said.

The secretary said of the 784 local chief executives, forty-three are governors which is 53 percent of the total number nationwide.

He said having the support of half of the provinces in the country is already a victory towards ending terrorism in the country.

Meanwhile, sixty-eight city mayors and 673 municipal mayors have also expressed their solidarity and are backing the passage of the Anti-Terrorism Bill.

“So far, we have almost half of the LGUs who are one with us in supporting the Anti-Terrorism Bill. It is a huge morale booster for us because this proves that we are one on this fight,” Año said.

Año added that Region IV-A (Calabarzon) has the most number of  local chief executives supporting the bill with 96 followed by Region II (Cagayan Valley) with 91; 88 for Region III (Central Luzon); Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR) with 80; and Region I (Ilocos Region) with 73.

Other regions such as Mimaropa has 58; Region XI (Davao Region) with 53; Region VI (Western Visayas) with 52; and Region XII (Soccsksargen) with 50 while Regions V (Bicol Region), VII (Central Visayas), and XIII (Caraga Region) have 24, 21, and 32, while the National Capital Region and Region VIII (Eastern Visayas) have six and four, respectively.

Support for the Anti-Terrorism Bill coming from the LGUs are expected to increase, according to Año, as more continue to express their support for the bill down at the grassroots. Ella Dionisio/DMS