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| James Jimenez |
INTRAMUROS, Manila - Having a candidate's name included in the drug watchlist of the government would not automatically disqualify or bar him from running in an election, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) clarified on Friday.
COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez explained that only a final judgment on the alleged crime - a court conviction - would disqualify a candidate's bid for public office, apart from other factors of disqualification.
"Having your name on the list of drug suspects or people suspected to be involved in the drug trade will not really have an effect on what the COMELEC does," Jimenez said in a press briefing.
"Being on [a] drug list will not disqualify a person from running for office. Disqualification only comes from a final judgment against the person, apart from other reasons for disqualification," the polling body official said. [Julius N. Leonen, Inquirer.net]
MANILA (26 Apr 2018) - Malacanang on Thursday confirmed that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has ordered the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to release the names of village officials in his so-called "narco list".
"President Duterte has ordered the PDEA to disclose the names of barangay officials included in the list of all those allegedly involved in the illegal drug trades," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace press briefing.
Duterte made his order three weeks before the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections set on May 14.
On Wednesday, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino revealed that those included in the list are 89 barangay chairmen and 122 barangay kagawads.
The PDEA chief said the list originally contains 216 names but five barangay captains were taken off the list as they will be subject to further validation, adding that it would release the drug list within this week.
Meanwhile, Roque extended the country's appreciation for China's support to the Duterte administration's campaign against illegal drugs.
"We are grateful for China's support to the campaign against illegal drugs through personal training, drug detention, confiscation, and testing equipment," Roque said.
The Philippines and China signed the protocol on cooperation against illegal drugs on Oct. 22, 2016, during Duterte's first visit as President to Beijing.
Duterte had repeatedly said he would finish his war against illegal drugs until the last day of his presidency in 2022. [Jelly Musico, PNA]
