Drug spotlight changes configuration of some poll races

REPLACEMENTMary Angeline “Sweet” Halili (holding a certificate of candidacy) steps out of her cocoon to run in place of her slain father for mayor of Tanauan City in Batangas province. -CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The spotlight on drugs brought by President Rodrigo Duterte’s focus on preventing the country from turning into what he said was a “narcostate” is also drawing attention to several political races made more interesting by the candidacies of relatives of officials gunned down after they were linked to drugs and those still alive after being on Mr. Duterte’s supposed “narcolist.”

In Tanauan City, Batangas province, the daughter of slain Mayor Antonio Halili has drawn the most attention after deciding to run for mayor in place of her father.

Affiliations

The slain mayor was once known for talking tough against crime and publicly shaming petty thieves only to be linked to drugs himself later.

The soft-spoken Mary Angeline “Sweet” Halili, 45, is running against Batangas board member Alfredo “Fred” Corona.

So far, only Halili and Corona had filed their certificates of candidacies on Thursday, arriving minutes apart just before the Commission on Elections office opened.

Halili is running under the United Nationalist Alliance, while Corona under the banner of the Nacionalista Party-One Batangas, a local party in the province.

Corona is former city mayor of Tanauan and first cousin of the late Chief Justice Renato Corona.

The former magistrate became controversial after he was impeached in 2012 for failing to fully disclose his wealth.

Ricky Juan Reyes, Tanauan City election officer, said at least three more personalities had signified their interest to run for mayor of the city.

Justified run

The 72-year-old Halili was serving his second term when he was felled by what authorities described as a sniper’s bullet during flag raising ceremony on July 2.

Prior to his killing, police tagged him as a “narcopolitician” along with several other officials, a claim that he and his family had denied.

“I think it’s justifiable for me to run, like a daughter taking up the responsibility of the parent,” said Mary Angeline.

“It’s daddy’s unfinished business to see Tanauan become progressive,” she said in a phone interview.

It was her first time to step into the political limelight after years spent in the corporate world.

Cop vs mayor

In Bulacan province, the impact of being on Mr. Duterte’s list of narcopoliticians remained to be seen in the case of Cipriano Violago, mayor of San Rafael town, who has been linked to drugs by the police.

Francisco Villaroman, former police chief superintendent, is challenging Violago for the mayoral seat.

Villaroman had been endorsed by Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, former national police chief and a schoolmate of Villaroman at the Philippine Military Academy.

As expected, Villaroman’s candidacy will pounce on Violago’s supposed drug links.

In endorsing Villaroman, Dela Rosa said: “We want to end “narco politics” from top to bottom down to the last level.”

Drug money

Dela Rosa, who is running for senator encouraged by his good showing in surveys, said drug lords were “winning elections because of money and by creating fear.”

Violago kept mum but he had earlier asked that his name be removed from the list.

There was talk in San Rafael about Violago dropping out of the race and endorsing his son, Cholo, instead. —REPORTS FROM CARMELA REYES AND MARICAR CINCO