CEBU, Philippines — With election-related activities already starting, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Central Visayas will also be looking into aspiring political candidates for possible ties to illegal drugs.
PDEA-7 spokesperson Leia Alcantara said they consider aspiring public officials involved in illegal drugs as high-value targets (HVT) due to their role in propagating the drug trade.
Even as PDEA-7 has yet to receive reports of any candidate receiving election funds from drug syndicates, the agency is not discounting such possibility.
PDEA anticipates that illegal drug syndicates will tie up with and support aspiring politicians in exchange of protecting their operations.
“Kay usa man gud na sa mga gina-exploit gyud sa mga drug syndicates, kana bang mo-tie up sila sa politiko nga ilang suportahan,” Alcantara said through the City’s Sugboanon channel.
“Kung makadaog na ang politiko, mura og indebted na ang politiko nila,” she added.
Alcantara said drug syndicates may influence politicians either as direct funders or as third-party sponsors.
“Duha man na siya (ka paagi). Ang politiko aware nga naa siya’y funding from a syndicate or drug personality and willing ra niya dawaton or ang politiko unaware siya kay ipaagi sa laing tawo. Still it’s the same, nag gamit sila og funds from illegal drugs, that’s why mao nang atong gitan-aw karun,” she added.
Last month, the Philippine National Police (PNP)’s Drug Enforcement Group also announced that it is investigating several local chief executives for their alleged ties to illegal drug syndicates. (CEBU NEWS)