Local Government Code author disputes DILG chief’s contraceptives call
April 3, 2011 12:29 am
MANILA, April 2 -– Local Government Code (LGC) author former senator Aquilino Pimentel Jr. branded as illegal, unlawful and unconstitutional Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo’s reported call for ‘barangay’ and other local officials nationwide to refrain from enacting ordinances that ban promotion, distribution, sale and purchase of contraceptives.
”He has no authority to do that,” Pimentel clarified Saturday at Kapihan sa Sulo forum in Quezon City.
Neither can Robredo sanction local officials who refuse to heed his call since he has no supervision and control over them, Pimentel noted.
Pimentel said Robredo’s act is illegal as the DILG chief cannot order local government units (LGUs) around.
This is because LGC’s enactment and implementation already emasculated the powers of the DILG, Pimentel said.
The DILG continues having jurisdiction over the police, Bureau of Fire Protection as well as Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, however.
Pimentel noted the call is also unlawful as such act violates LGC’s provisions on devolution of powers to LGUs.
Such call is likewise unconstitutional since this in effect bars local officials from protecting the unborn’s life and from promoting health of expectant mothers concerned, he continued.
”I’m challenging Secretary Robredo about his warning,” he said.
Pimentel said under the LGC, power is structured such that higher-level LGUs like provinces and cities have supervision over respective lower-level LGUs like villages.
”There are levels of authority – even our presidents can not investigate village officials directly as they must do so through this hierarchy,” he said. (PNA)
DCT/CJT/rsm
[...] Note: This piece also appeared on the website of the Gold Star Daily, a Mindanao newspaper (Robredco Talks Out of Turn), and Balita (Local Government Code author disputes DILG chief’s contraceptives call). [...]