Año urges bets with drug links to desist from running in May polls

FILE: DILG Officer-in-Charge Eduardo M. Año. (Photo: DILG)

MANILA – Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año urged aspiring barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) candidates with illegal drug links to desist from running in the May 14 elections.

“Do your country a favor. Do not even consider the thought of filing your certificate of candidacy for any position in the coming barangay and SK elections,” Año said in a statement Friday.

“Don’t use public office to cover up your involvement in narco trade. Don’t corrupt public funds for your crimes. Not under the watch of President Duterte. Not under my watch in the DILG,” he added.

The filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) will be on April 14-20.

Año also stressed the importance of electing barangay officials who have no involvement in illegal drugs because they will head the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADACs) in their respective localities.

He noted that one of the responsibilities of the BADAC is to plan, strategize, implement and evaluate programs and projects on drug abuse prevention in the barangay.

It will also organize and orient BADAC auxiliary teams on their roles and functions and in formulating plan of action to address the problem, he said.

“How can one have the moral authority to spearhead the drive against illegal drugs in their barangays if they themselves are tagged as protectors, financiers or users?” Año said.