Comelec to accept CoCs of 'narco-politicians'

DAVAO CITY – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will accept the Certificates of Candidacy (CoC) of politicians who are on the government's drug watch-list unless election officers are compelled by law to deny their application to run in the 2019 mid-term next year.

“Comelec has only a ministerial duty. So we accept kung naa siya sa narco list dili pwede dili namo dawaton until and unless there is a disqualification (So we accept even if the candidate is in the narco list until and unless there is a disqualification),” lawyer Krisna Caballero, Comelec-11 spokesperson, said during the AFP-PNP press corps briefing on Wednesday.

Caballero added that even the disqualification of a candidate is not outright because it goes through a process.

Caballero clarified that a drug test is even not mandatory, although there are candidates who submit drug test results.

Election officers will accept CoCs of candidates who meet the requirements to run for an elective post: minimum age, residence, and be able to read and write.

In Tuesday’s interview, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Director Antonio Rivera confirmed a local government official in the region is on PDEA’s list.

Rivera, however, declined to name the official.

Secretary Eduardo Año of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said there are 93 local officials who are on the government's narco-list.

Meanwhile, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said he is set to de-list a number of politicians on the narco-list starting early next week.

Aquino clarified though that those who will be de-listed are not yet off-the-hook, as they will still be constantly monitored.

Aquino said the government's narco-list has been "validated and re-validated" by four agencies—PDEA, Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA). (Lilian C Mellejor/PNA)