Samar Gov. Tan among the first to volunteer
TACLOBAN CITY-Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer-in-charge Eduardo Año said that he would still like to see candidates running in next year’s midterm elections undergo drug testing.
However, instead of making it as mandatory, he just ‘challenged’ the candidates to just volunteer themselves for a drug test.
Año made this disclosure during an interview as he led in the inauguration of a Peace and Resilience Center located inside the compound of the regional office of the DILG, this city, on Wednesday(Oct. 24).
“We are challenging the candidates to voluntarily submit themselves for a drug test. If you are clear, if you are not using drugs, ano ikinatatakot mo?” the DILG chief said.
“Ipakita mo sa iyung constituents na ikaw ay isang matino, mahusay, at maaasahan na kandidato,” Año added.
He said that it would be to the advantage of the candidates themselves if they will undergo a drug testing.
“Pag-nakita ng mga voters na hindi ka positive sa drugs, iboboto ka ng mga tao,” Año said.
For her part, Samar Governor Sharee Ann Tan said that she would just be willing to undergo a drug test.
”Of course, any time,” Tan, who is running for a congressional seat for Samar’s second district in next year’s elections, said.
Earlier, Año advanced the proposal for all candidates seeking for elective posts in next year’s elections to undergo drug testing.
This proposal, however, was strongly opposed by several candidates. Malacañang had also said that it is still reviewing the proposal which was also suggested by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
With the opposition and if it will contravene with the ruling of the Commission on Elections, Año said that these candidates should just volunteer themselves for a drug test.
No less than President Rodrigo Duterte, who is leading a controversial crackdown on illegal drugs in the country, named several local officials as among protectors of those who are engaging in the illegal drug trade.
In Leyte, one of its mayors, Rolando Espina of Albuera town, was among those named by Mr. Duterte. He was slain while he was inside his cell at the Leyte sub-provincial jail in Baybay City on November 5, 2016 in a shootout with members of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG). (JOEY A. GABIETA)
