PDEA chief Aaron Aquino INQUIRER.net / Jhoanna Ballaran
“Do not put drug-tainted barangay officials back into office.”
This was the call of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Saturday as it urged the public to reject narco-politicians who are seeking reelection in the barangay elections on May 14.
“Reject those barangay candidates who are involved in illegal drug activities. They do not deserve the people’s votes,” PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said in a statement.
During the campaign period, drug money may creep into the electoral process and fuel the political machinery of candidates who are in the pockets of drug syndicates, the PDEA chief warned.
“Obviously, they will only support local candidates who will give them protection in return. Incumbent barangay officials, or prospective bets who are linked to drugs, may continue to lord it over the polls,” Aquino said.
“We do not want that to happen. Our destiny lies in our own hands. We are appealing to the public to wisely choose our next community leaders,” he stressed.
Aquino noted that there were 289 barangay officials, composed of 143 chairmen and 146 kagawads (barangay councilors), who were tagged in the narco-list of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“The number is expected to increase once the validated list of barangay officials engaged in drug trade who are included in the PDEA National Drug Information System, sets in,” Aquino said.
“PDEA is urging barangays to activate their respective Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils, and be cooperative and pro-active in the anti-illegal drug campaign,” he said. /jpv
RELATED STORY
Palace backs barangay drug probe