PDEA chief suspects narcopols now using drug money for campaign

PDEA chief Aaron Aquino (File photo by NOY MORCOSO / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Director General Aaron Aquino said Wednesday that narco-politicians could already be using drug money to buy votes for the May elections.

The practice, which Aquino earlier said had been done in the past, could be happening again as the election season heats up.

“Ang narco-politician pwedeng gamitin ang drug money to buy votes. Sa assessment ng PDEA nag-uumpisa na itong gamitin ng mga politician na ito to buy votes,” he said in an interview with dzMM.

(A narco-politician may use drug money to buy votes. In the assessment of PDEA, these politicians have started using it to buy votes.)

“Dalawang paraan lang magagamit ang pera para makabili ng boto: isa sa korapsyon, tsaka sa drug money,” he said.

(There are only two ways money can be sourced to buy votes: one is corruption and drug money.)

Aquino disclosed the assessment as the Department of the Interior and Local Government said it planned to release the list of politicians involved in illegal drugs by next week to guide voters.

READ: ‘Narco list’ might be out in a week – DILG

Aquino said that of the 82 politicians on the list, 64 were vying for reelection. The list includes congressmen, governors, vice governors, mayors and vice mayors.

READ: Politicians in ‘narcolist’ down to 82, says PDEA chief

Aquino said the so-called narco list needed revalidation, which poses a challenge to the PDEA and related government agencies.

READ: PDEA chief: Narco list needs ‘revalidation’

“Hindi pa namin tapos ang pag-revalidate. Napakahirap mag-revalidate dahil pabalik-balik kami sa ground just to ensure na lahat ng impormasyon at lahat ng intelligence ay tama,” he said.

(We have not finished the revalidation. Revalidation is difficult because we need to go back to the field to ensure that all pieces of intelligence information are correct.)

Aquino has said that he is against releasing the list, but said he will abide by the order of President Rodrigo Duterte, who according to Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo, already gave the green light for the narco list to be made public. /cbb

READ: PDEA chief maintains stand against release of ‘narco list’