CANDIDATES in next week’s Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections should consider undergoing voluntary drug testing, Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde said Monday.
Speaking during the #RealNumbers forum in Camp Crame, Albayalde emphasized that even if it was not a requirement under the law, voluntary drug testing by candidates would dispel skepticism about their sincerity to go after drug personalities in their communities.
“We have had surrenderers who are kagawads up to barangay captains, even if there is no law requiring them to do it, we are putting this drug test challenge for them,” Albayalde said.
The PNP chief said the challenge had gained traction in some areas.
In related developments:
•The Commission on Elections has tapped two organizations as the accredited citizens arm in the May 14th polls.
In Comelec Minute Resolution 18-0329, the poll body approved the accreditation of National Movement for Free Elections and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting as an accredited citizens’ arms for the election.
“The Commission resolves to adopt the recommendation of Commissioner Luie Guia that the petition and the letter of the PPCRV and Namfrel be treated as their manifestation of intent to discharge the duties of an accredited citizens arm of the Commission,” the resolution stated.
“Considering that PPCRV and Namfrel have been the citizens arm (sic) of this Commission in past elections, and have contributed to the conduct of honest, orderly, peaceful elections as such citizens arm,” the resolution stated.
• Environmentalist group Ecowaste Coalition urged all candidates in the May 14 elections to hold a campaign in a way that would not aggravate community health and environmental problems.
“We renew our appeal to all contenders to be respectful of their constituents’ right to a healthy environment. Their keen desire to get the voters’ nod should not worsen the waste and pollution woes of the communities, especially in heavily populated barangays, that they are hoping to serve,” said Ecowaste zero waste campaigner Daniel Alejandre.
The group stated that while it was tempting for the candidates to “spend to the max for leaflets, posters, banners and other campaign paraphernalia to promote their visibility, candidates should adhere to the P5 expense limit per registered voter in their barangay and avoid going beyond what is allowed and what is necessary to get themselves known to the electorate.”
“Campaign materials consume lots of resources to get produced and disseminated. Paper leaflets, for instance, are made from wood pulp from trees. Water, bleaching chemicals, dyes and inks, and, not to forget, fossil fuels, are used to make them. While it takes a lengthy and resource-intensive process to produce them, campaign materials are often disposed of as garbage, dumped or burned,” said Alejandre.
To conserve the use of resources and minimize the generation of garbage, the group urged candidates to refrain from distributing too much leaflets and sample ballots, and from putting up too much banners and posters.
“If they have nothing to hide, then there is nothing to fear. In Region 1 there were several candidates and incumbent barangay officials who underwent voluntary testing,” the new PNP chief added.
Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Marie Banaag, for her part, said Malacañang was working closely to bridge the prosecution arm of the war on drugs and the PNP.
Banaag cited Justice Secretary Menardo Guevara already ordered last week the courtesy resignation of the agency’s undersecretaries and assistant secretaries to give him a free hand in pursuing the mandate of the agency.
“We are also working for our drug units to improve their case build-up capabilities,” Albayalde said.
The PNP chief said those willing to take up the drug test challenge might go through the PNP Crime Laboratory as well as Department of Health clinics which provide drug testing at competitive rates.
The Comelec earlier reiterated that there was no law requiring electoral candidates to take mandatory drug tests amid calls from lawmakers and Liga ng mga Barangay president Edmund Abesamis for the implementation of such measure.
Last week, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Authority announced the names of 207 barangay officials from over 100 barangays, including 90 barangay captains in its watchlist of drug personalities, as vetted by inter-agency investigation.
Candidates will be running for posts in 42,044 barangays, each with one chairperson, seven councilors, one SK chairperson and seven SK councilors. With Sara Susanne Fabunan, Joel Zurbano