Barangay officials should start implementing local ordinances or face suspension.

The warning came from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Dino amid the intensified government campaign against loiterers or “tambays” and violators of ordinances.

“We, at the DILG, will be pursuing that barangay officials should take the lead in the campaign against loiterers. It is the obligation of barangay captains and tanod (watchmen),” said Dino in a broadcast interview.

“If you (barangay officials) fail to do it, we will not have second thought in suspending you. That is very clear in the Local Government Code Chapter 3 letter A,” he added.

Dino, who is a former barangay chairman, said it is the duty and responsibility of village officials to implement laws and local ordinances and even regulations by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for those in Metro Manila.

Among these ordinances are the no smoking and drinking of alcohol in public places, the prohibition on going out of residences half-naked and implementation of curfew hours.

He said during his time, confiscation of all beverages, glasses and tables served as punishment for those caught drinking in public places during first offense. Second offense would lead to filing of formal charges.

Actually, violations of ordinances are varying depending on the local government. There are those that slap huge fines while some impose community service for minor offenses.

“They (incumbent barangay chairmen) should act now, they should do their obligation or they will be sanctioned,” Dino said.

Dino’s warning against barangay officials came amid the intensified campaign by the Philippine National Police (PNP) against violators of ordinances.

The PNP also stressed that barangay officials should also perform their duties in the campaign.

Since President Duterte’s order against “tambays” came out, more than 7,200 individuals have already been apprehended in Metro Manila for various violations of ordinances.