NCRPO watching poll bets using drug money

MANILA, Philippines — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) is closely monitoring politicians in Metro Manila allegedly using drug money in the campaign for the midterm elections, an official announced yesterday.

NCRPO chief Director Guillermo Eleazar ordered his five district directors and 38 station commanders to identify these politicians so charges could be filed against them.

Eleazar also directed the heads of regional, district and station drug enforcement units to grill arrested drug suspects on whether they are being coddled by politicians.

“We are monitoring the field to determine if drug money is being used by politicians in the coming elections. But so far, our radar showed negative results,” he said.

Eleazar issued the directive following the statement by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Aaron Aquino that politicians could be using drug money in their campaign.

“Funds from drug rings are circulated during the campaign prior to the elections,” Aquino earlier said. “Politicians will start using drug money to buy votes.”

Aquino made the statement after PDEA agents recovered 36 kilos of shabu worth P245 million during a raid on a house at a subdivision in Damariñas, Cavite last week.

He said the drugs were part of the 274 kilos of shabu, with an estimated value of P1.9 billion, seized earlier by the PDEA in Tanza, Cavite.

The NCRPO is monitoring 37 districts and 16 cities and a municipality in Metro Manila.

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) tagged the cities of Caloocan, Manila, Malabon, Mandaluyong and Pasay as poll hotspots due to election-related incidents in the past.

But Eleazar assured the public that the peace and order situation in these areas is manageable.

“The basis of the Comelec for including these cities in the areas of concern is because of election-related incidents during the previous elections,” he explained.

“All interventions available will be done by the NCRPO in coordination with other government agencies to ensure peaceful and orderly elections,” Eleazar said.