Banning narco politicians from the May elections

Suspected narco-politicians who are running in next year’s elections are at risk of being disqualified as the Department of Interior and Local Government is seeking for the disqualification of candidates included on the government’s illegal drug list.

At least 93 local officials are on the list, majority (58) of them are mayors. DILG officerin-charge Eduardo Año said they proposed to the Commission on Elections the exclusion of those on the list from the May polls.

The Comelec has yet to say on the proposal, which Chief Superintendent Debold Sinas, director of Police Regional Office-7, is supporting. Sinas also wants the names of those on the narco list revealed so the voters will know.

Whether the Comelec favors the DILG proposal remains to be seen. However, it would not be surprising if many would find it illegal. We should remember that those on the drug list are still suspects. And just because they are included on the list does not automatically mean they do not already have rights to run for public office. They are still innocent unless, of course, proven guilty by law.

The Constitution grants anyone the rights to run for public office as long as he or she meets certain requirements such as on age and citizenship.

The reason why we are seeing candidates from all walks of life during elections is that the law allows them to run even if some of them are not actually serious in their interest to serve the public.

Yes, the DILG proposal for the Comelec to ban those on the drug list is good. Those involved in the illegal trade must have no place in government service to prevent them from tainting the sacredness of public office.

But to determine who are really those politicians involved in illegal drugs is something that is best left to the court to decide. That is why the police and other concerned agencies need to file charges against those they accused of being involved in narco-politics.