Partisan politics
Naming barangay officials allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade may be considered partisan and political if the names will be released during the campaign period.
This is the statement of Provincial Election Officer, Atty. Ferdinand Gujilde, explaining that a partisan political activity is an act that promotes the victory or defeat of a candidate, directly or indirectly.
The campaign period for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections will begin on May 4 and will end on May 12. Election will take place on May 14.
“Kung magpagawas ka’g lista kung kana protector of illegal drugs sa ilang barangay, that’s indirect way of saying don’t vote for them,” he said.
“PDEA (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency) is naa man sa government so it might offend the prohibition against public employees or public officers from engaging in a partisan political activity,” Gujilde said.
Section 2(4) of Article IX-B of the 1987 Philippine Constitution says no officer or employee in the civil service shall engage, directly or indirectly, in any electioneering or partisan political campaign.
PDEA will reportedly release the names on April 30, Monday.
If this is the case, Gujilde said this might not violate the law because doing so is part and parcel of PDEA’s campaign against public officials engaged in illegal drugs.
“I have reservations as far as the propriety or legality of the release of the list during the campaign period is concerned,” Gujilde said.
SUE FIRST
For Phillip Zafra, president of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) – Cebu City Chapter, PDEA should file charges against the officials before naming them publicly.
“I suppose that they will have solid evidence against these fellows. Aside from naming names, we have to file the charges against these officials para makahibaw ta nga naa gyu’y lig-ong ebidensya batok nila,” he told The FREEMAN.
Zafra who is seeking re-election as barangay captain of Tisa, Cebu City said the government should take into account that it is not only the reputation of the official that will be tainted, but also that of his family.
He hopes that PDEA has validated any information that reached the agency.
Cebu City Councilors Pastor Alcover, Jr. and Raymond Alvin Garcia agreed with Zafra.
Alcover said cases should be filed first so that the officials will have the chance to explain.
He said authorities should avoid what he considers as a “mistaken announcement” like the one President Rodrigo Duterte made, which tagged former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama as a protector of illegal drugs.
No case, however, was filed against Rama.
“Dili kalikay kay kining barangay election is a political exercise so dili malikayan nga dunay mga tao nga we don’t know, naay political interests,” Alcover added.
Garcia, for his part, said, “Ang akoa ra pod, kon ipagawas gyud ang pangalan, they should file a case against these people kay lain kaayo ang all talk but no action.”
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña who supports the PDEA move said he will cut ties with barangay officials who are his allies but who will be named drug protectors.