BAGUIO CITY -- The Baguio City Council has approved a resolution encouraging all candidates for Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Election (BSKE) to take a step forward and volunteer to undergo drug testing to ensure that the polls will not be tainted with issues of candidates being involved in illegal drugs.
Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr. had authored the resolution, Dexter See of the city information office told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Tuesday.
"It is imperative that the public be cooperative and proactive in the crusade of President Rodrigo Duterte against illegal drugs so that those who desire to be elected as barangay and SK officials must be free from any involvement in illegal drugs," the resolution read.
Earlier, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – National Drug Information System (PDEA-NDIS) said there are 289 barangay officials, who are in the President’s narco-list -- 143 barangay chairmen and 146 barangay kagawads (councilmen).
Of the 289 barangay officials linked to illegal drugs nationwide, 41 had been reportedly arrested.
See quoted Yangot as saying the barangay officials, with the help of their constituents, should safeguard their community's well-being, away from the serious negative effects of dangerous drugs on the youth and communities in general.
According to See, the resolution is in line with the Baguio government’s programs against illegal drugs, substance abuse, and addiction, especially as the city is making progress in combating the drug problem because of the active role of barangay officials through the Barangay Drug Abuse Councils (BADACs) and the public.
Lawyer Joseph Frederick Calulut, information officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Cordillera, earlier told the PNA that while there is no regulation requiring candidates to undergo drug testing, PDEA continues to track down anybody, including candidates, who might be involved in illegal drugs. (PNA)
