The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) is backing the call for all candidates in the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) to submit themselves to drug testing.
Police Major Rolando Araño, IPPO spokesperson, said barangay officials should serve as role models to their constituents and take the lead in the campaign against illegal drugs.
On Thursday, May 25, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. urged the aspirants to undergo drug tests.
“Siguro sa lahat ng tatakbo we are fighting a war that is a global problem kung gusto niyo manilbihan sa bayan one of the biggest problems is illegal drugs, siguro magpa-drug test kayo,” he said.
Abalos made the call after Police General Benjamin Acorda, Jr., Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, disclosed that they are monitoring at least 430 barangay officials with suspected links to illegal drugs.
“We are continuously receiving information and we are collating them, they are subject to evaluation,” he said.
“But based on our update, there are more or less 430 barangay officials (involved in illegal drug trade),” Acorda added.
In a television interview on Friday, May 26, Commission on Election (COMELEC) spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said requiring drug testing is “unconstitutional.”
“If we can remember sometime in the 2007 elections. That part of the requirement for a negative drug testing certificate was already tried by the Commission on Elections. Unfortunately, we were brought to the Supreme Court, and the Supreme Court struck down our resolution,” he said.IMT
