Gordon wants probe on ‘narco-politicians’ victory, rues vote buying

MANILA, Philippines – Senator Richard Gordon on Monday called for an investigation on the midterm elections victory of 26 politicians included in the so-called narco-list.”

Gordon, who heads the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, said that there was “inordinate, flagrant and scandalous vote-buying” in the areas where the alleged narco-politicians won.

Hence, Gordon said the same should be investigated by the Commission on Elections, the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“While vote-buying may have become commonplace to some people, the inordinate, flagrant and scandalous vote-buying in areas where the narco-politicians won must be investigated,” Gordon said in a statement.

“A lot of vote-buying occurred and there are affidavits to show that. Where there is massive vote-buying, cash was used. And because so many thousands of pesos were distributed, AMLC should look into that. The BIR should look into their capability, the Comelec should investigate, and the police should also investigate,” the senator added.

Gordon said the authorities must check if there were major withdrawals done during the election season.

Citing a case in Zambales, which is “right next to Scarborough Shoal and near China where lots of smuggled drugs originate from”, Gordon said that there was rampant vote-buying in Subic, Sta. Cruz and Olongapo City.

“It is obviously an attempt by the narco-politicians to save themselves by getting positions,” Gordon said, noting that several members of the Khonghun clan won in the recent midterm elections despite the inclusion of some of them in the narco-list.

Reelected Zambales First District Representative Jeffrey Khonghun and his son, Subic Mayor Jefferson Khonghun were included in President Duterte’s narco-list after a floating shabu laboratory was raided in in town’s waters.

READ: Subic mayor in ‘narcolist’ denies links to illegal drugs
“They now hold sway over these areas. Now, these people have proven that with just money, they can win, they can buy the Comelec, they can buy votes. I have never seen anything like it in my life, and I blew the whistle on it, four days before the elections. It is dangerous for us now because Zambales is a coastline province right next to Scarborough Shoal. It would be so easy to bring in drugs,” said Gordon. /gg