Palace: ‘Narcopols’ can’t be disqualified in 2019 polls unless convicted

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. INQUIRER file photo

Politicians allegedly involved in corruption and illegal drugs could not be disqualified to run in the 2019 midterm elections, Malacañang said Thursday after Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Eduardo Año said he would recommend this to Presidnet Rodrigo Duterte.

“Point well taken but the President is a lawyer. He knows that they cannot be disqualified unless they have been convicted with finality and that the accessory penalty for disqualification from public office has been decreed by the court,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing.

READ: DILG chief seeks disqualification of ‘narcopols’ from 2019 elections

Duterte has repeatedly slammed some mayors for their link to illegal drug trafficking and even threteaned to suspend local chief executives whose jurisdiction is drug-infested./jpv