Albayalde urges officials, candidates to take drug test

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Oscar Albayalde urged on Monday, May 7, all the candidates in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections as well as the incumbent officials, particularly those seeking re-election, to undergo a drug test and clear them of any possible doubt.

“We are putting this drug test challenge sa mga barangay officials at sa mga tumatakbo pa, although walang batas dito, we wanted to put this challenge sa kanila kung talagang walang tinatago ang mga yan why not undergo a voluntary drug test,” he said.

“Hintayin pa ba na lumabas ang mga pangalan nila sa listahan o maakusahan sila? (Are they going to wait until their names are included in the drug

watchlist or charges are hurled against them?)” he added.

Alabayalde said he may order the PNP Crime Laboratory to assist those who want to undergo voluntary drug testing. He said they may also seek the help of the Department of Health for such procedure.

He noted that several barangay officials from Ilocos region underwent a voluntary drug test.

“Bakit hindi magawa ng iba if talagang wala silang tinatago or clean sila (of illegal drugs)? Hindi ‘yung ginagawa nilang reason na wala naman law na nagdidikta ng ganoon (Why can’t others do the same if they have nothing to hide? Why hide behind the reason that this is not required by law?),” said Albayalde.

Earlier, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) made public its watchlist containing the names of 207 barangay chairmen and kagawad (councilor) allegedly involved in the illegal drugs trade in their respective areas.

PDEA director Aaron Aquino said they were verifying the illegal drugs involvement of more brangay officials and release additional names soon.

The release of the barangay narco-list has gained negative comments particularly from several lawmakers including former PNP chief now Senator Panfilo Lacson who said such move was “dumb and cruel.”

However, Albayade maintained that the PNP has no hand in releasing such list.

“I’m sure it (was) a collective decision. Hindi naman kami kumontra doon sa paglabas, binigay namin totally ‘yung decision sa DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) at PDEA because wala kaming… hindi kami pwede mag decide doon,” he said.