MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has named former Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) chairman Martin Diño as undersecretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). 

Duterte appointed Diño to the post on Monday, according to appointment papers released to the media yesterday. 

Diño earlier said he would be tasked to handle the agency’s barangay affairs. He was the original presidential candidate of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan during the 2016 elections.

He later gave way to Duterte and was appointed SBMA chairman.

Diño vacated the post after Duterte appointed SBMA administrator Wilma Eisma as chair in a concurrent capacity.

Aside from Diño, Duterte appointed Loreto Llamas as member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Sorsogon. 

Diño vowed to maximize the participation of some five million barangay officials in government efforts to fight illegal drugs.

“I will make sure that all the barangays all over the Philippines will be fighting against illegal drugs,” Diño told journalists after the turnover ceremony at the DILG.

Diño served as barangay chairman for several years in Quezon City during the early 2000s.

He said he would ask all the barangays to submit a list of suspected drug pushers and criminals in their areas.

He expressed belief the DILG has the power to suspend or remove erring barangay officials.

Diño said the village officials would be complemented by officials of the Sangguniang Kabataan.

“We have budget for the villages, so this barangay government must be tapped, especially in intelligence gathering. The barangays have it all: peace and order, census, health, tax mapping. We should be at the forefront, engage in action.” – Cecille Suerte Felipe