By Aaron Recuenco
Retired general Eduardo Año, officer-in-charge of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has expressed full support on the move to make public all the barangay officials who are connected with illegal drugs operations ahead of the elections scheduled next month.
Año said he does not see anything wrong with publishing the names of the barangay officials since public safety and the voter’s right to know are more important than the expected human rights violation claims of those who are included in the so-called narco-list.
“The voters must know the truth about their candidates. Everyone must be accountable for himself and for what he did in the past specially if he is running for a public position,” said Año in a text message to reporters.
Hundreds of barangay officials are reportedly on the narco-list of President Duterte. Earlier, he tasked the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to release the names.
The PNP has been at the forefront of the intensified campaign against illegal drugs.
In its security assessment, it did not discount the possibility of the use of drug money in the election of barangay candidates.
