Año challenges bets in next year’s polls to take drug tests

TACLOBAN CITY-Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer-in-charge Eduardo Año would still like to see candidates running in next year’s midterm elections undergo drug tests.

Instead of making it as mandatory, he challenged the candidates to volunteer themselves.

Año made this disclosure during an interview with the reporters on Wednesday after the inauguration of the Peace and Resilience Center located inside the compound of the regional office of the DILG here.

“We are challenging the candidates to voluntarily submit themselves for a drug test. If you are clear, if you have not using drugs, ano ikinatatakot mo (what are you afraid of)?” the DILG chief said.

“Ipakita mo sa iyung constituents na ikaw ay isang matino, mahusay, at maaasahan na kandidato (show your constituents that you are sensible, competent and reliable candidate),” he added.

Año said that it would be to a candidate’s advantage if they would take a drug test.

“Pag-nakita ng mga voters na hindi ka positive sa drugs, iboboto ka ng mga tao (If you are able to show that you are not positive of drugs, they will vote for you),” Año said.

Año earlier proposed that all candidates in next year’s elections undergo drug testing.

But the proposal was opposed by several candidates. Malacañang had also said that it was still reviewing the proposal which was also suggested by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

President Rodrigo Duterte, who is leading a crackdown on illegal drugs in the country, has tagged several local officials as among protectors of drug personalities.  /muf