MANILA, Philippines – A candidate’s inclusion in the government’s narco-politicians’ list is not a ground for disqualification, a Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Sheriff Abas pointed out Monday.
Abas issued the clarification amid plans of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to release the names of politicians allegedly involved in the drug trade in time for the May midterm elections.
“Hindi ko papasukan yung mandato ng DILG and PDEA, kung sa tingin nila nakakabuti iyon, then depende sa’kanila yun. But again, as far as Comelec is concerned, we presumed those in the list innocent so hindi siya magiging ground of disqualification,” Abas said in an interview.
(I will not meddle with the mandate of the DILG and PDEA. But as far as the Comelec is concerned, we presume that those in the list are innocent and hence will not be ground for disqualification.)
PDEA earlier said that the list includes 83 politicians – mayors, vice mayors, governors, vice governors and congressmen.
“Personally, tingin ko mas maganda nga na guide ‘yun. Pero ang problema lang, totoo ba ‘yun? Pero kung totoo, for me, maganda kasi naga-guide mo ang botante,” he said.
(I think the list, if verified, will be a good guide for voters.)
Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde is supporting the release of the narco politicians’ list.
READ: PNP chief backs release of ‘narco list’
PNP spokesperson Senior Supt. Bernard Banac earlier announced that the list of politicians included in the list will be released before the midterm elections. / gsg
READ: Narco-politicians’ list coming soon – PNP