DILG: Voters must know truth about candidates

- Interior and Local Government officerin-charge Eduardo Año on Thursday, April 26, said government is not trying to persecute the candidates who are in the government’s drugs watchlist by releasing their names, but merely trying to help the voters choose wisely.

“The voters must know the truth about their candidates. Everyone must be accountable for himself and for what he did in the past specially if he is running for a public position. Let the voters decide. I don’t think its persecution. I trust PDEA,” Año said.

Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director Aaron Aquino said Thursday, April 26, that he was still finalizing the drug watchlist containing the names of over 200 barangay officials.

The list would be released on Monday, April 30, upon approval by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“May pinahabol pa ang Malacañang na listahan so I guess itong 211 na idadivulge ko ay baka madagdagan pa po. Merong user, may pusher, pero karamihan po sa kanila ay protector,” he said.

(Malacañang sent additional names. There are users, pushers, but mostly they are protectors.)

“Hihimay-himayin ko pa ‘yun kasi kung magbigay kasi sila isang libro eh, so kung titingnan ko pa kung ano yung naidagdag pa don, siguro less than 10 ang naidagdag siguro,” he added.

(I will have to sort them and verify because the list they gave could fill up one book.)

Aquino said they have not been able to determine whether those on the list have filed their certificates of candidacy for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.

He said of the 211 names on the list, 89 were barangay chairman. Most are from Bicol Region while only 15 are from Metro Manila.

PNP chief Oscar Alabayalde, for his part, said such move is essential to allow the electorate to pick their candidates wisely.