TACLOBAN CITY — Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año has called on candidates for next year’s elections to submit themselves to drug tests as proof of support for the government’s anti-drug war.
“If they’re not using drugs, why are they afraid? You have to show to your constituents you deserve their votes,” Año told reporters during the inauguration of the peace and resiliency center here on Wednesday.
Año said they will meet with the Commission on Elections to review the legal basis in possible disqualification of candidates linked to illegal drugs.
The poll body earlier said mere inclusion in the so-called “narco list” of Malacañang and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency is not enough to de-list a candidate’s name from the ballot.
Meanwhile, Año reminded politicians not to hire or maintain private armies to ensure peaceful and orderly elections next year
“Dismantling of private armed groups will continue and intensified nationwide. We just need information from the public to disarm them. Those found violating rules will face charges,” he warned.
In fighting private armed groups, the government will apply the “Alunan doctrine” introduced by former Interior secretary Rafael Alunan III, who served during the presidency of Fidel Ramos.
Under the Alunan doctrine, any official with more than two armed men can be considered as an organizer of private armed groups and must be disarmed.
He said the police and military will work together to intensify intelligence gathering to prevent regrouping of private armed groups and dismantle existing ones. (Sarwell Meniano/PNA)
