Around 430 barangay officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs are now being monitored by the Philippine National Police (PNP) – and many of them are in Western Visayas, top cop Gen. Benjamin Acorda said on Thursday.
Acorda said some of these village officials are included in the PNP’s list of high-value individuals and street-level Individuals in the war against drugs.
At the same time, Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. called on those who want to run in the 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) this October to take a drug test.
“One of the biggest problems is drugs. Maybe you should take a drug test. Show us that you are ready to serve. I am calling out to all candidates,” said Abalos.
By doing this, the Department of Interior and Local Governments chief said, the candidates can significantly contribute to the “Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan” or BIDA program, the revitalized anti-drug advocacy campaign of the government.
As for the village leaders, Acorda said: “They are subject to intelligence operations. We are hoping that this will be reduced in the coming days. Hopefully, those involved would eventually stop. If not, they will be subject to police operations.”
The PNP chief told reporters this on the sidelines of the launch of the BIDA program in private sector workplaces in Quezon City.
Acorda said these barangay officials have varying involvement in illegal drugs, where some are pushers, some are protectors, and others are financiers.
“But based on our update, there are more or less 430 barangay officials (involved in the illegal drug trade), many of them are in Region VI (Western Visayas),” he added.
Acorda urged the public not to vote for candidates who are involved in illegal drugs.
“I want to take this opportunity to appeal to voters not to consider candidates, who have involvement in illegal drugs, to become our next set of barangay officials,” the top cop stressed.
BIDA aims to reduce drug demand in the communities by harnessing the support of local government units, national government agencies, private sectors, faith-based organizations, and civil society organizations.
Former President Rodrigo Duterte had disclosed that 40 percent of village officials are linked to illegal drugs or directly involved in drug dealing and trafficking. About 289 barangay officials have been monitored for having allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
In 2018, then-PNP chief Oscar Albayalde also came up with a statement that aspirants and reelectionists in the BSKE should voluntary submit themselves to drug testing.
According to the Commission on Elections (Comelec), it had already tried in 2003 to make drug testing mandatory among candidates when it issued Resolution 6486, but the Supreme Court in 2008 ruled the imposition was beyond the powers of the agency.
If Congress wanted to, the High Court added, it could make mandatory drug testing a requirement for local elective office – from governor all the way down to village councilman or “kagawad.”
Comelec officials said they can only encourage voters to get behind the call of the PNP against candidates linked to illegal drugs.
In March, the Commission on Elections signed and issued a resolution prescribing the activities, periods and prohibited acts in connection with the October 30, 2023 Synchronized BSKE.
The filing of the certificate of candidacy for the elections is set on Aug. 28, 2023 to Sept. 2, 2023.
The election period will last from Aug. 28 to Nov. 29, 2023 when the bearing, carrying and transporting of firearms and other deadly weapons, and the availing or engagement of the services of security personnel or bodyguards will be strictly prohibited.
Abalos said illegal drugs remain one of the biggest problems in the country and barangay officials should take the lead not only in fighting them but also in leading by example by proving they are clean.
“To all those who would run for the barangay elections, we are fighting a war that is a global problem. If you want to run and serve, then undergo a drug test and show to us that you are ready to serve. I am calling out to all candidates,” said Abalos,
Acorda earlier revealed that they are monitoring 48 active and potential private armed groups that may mobilize on the days leading to the elections.
The PNP said it is focusing more on Regions 3 (Central Luzon), 5 (Bicol), 6 (Western Visayas), 13 (Caraga), Cordillera Administrative Region and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Acorda said part of the early interventions are operations to take away the instruments of crime and violence, particularly firearms.
“We are focusing more on the preventive aspect of crime control as instructed by the President. This is done by taking away the instruments of crime and violence by also accounting for the criminal elements who set into motion the criminal motive,” Acorda said.
