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[av_heading heading=’PDEA: 289 barangay officials in Duterte ‘narco-list’’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’18’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
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Friday, March 16, 2018
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MANILA – Some 289 village officials were in the “narco-list” of President Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said.
They included 143 barangay captains and 146 kagawads (councilmen), Director General Aaron Aquino revealed.
Of the number, 41 have been arrested, five died in legitimate police operations, 27 were victims of homicide now under investigation, three were natural deaths, five used other names or aliases, and one was murdered over political rivalry, said Aquino.
Two hundred seven barangay officials were currently active in the drug trade, based on the PDEA’s National Drug Information System record.
Aquino said these information were obtained from reports of Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils nationwide and verified by PDEA, being the chair of the Interagency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs.
Ahead of the scheduled barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, Aquino urged the electorate not to vote for candidates involved in drugs. “They do not deserve the people’s votes,” he said in a statement.
It is “very likely” that drug money may seep into the electoral process due to the influence of drug syndicates, said Aquino. “Obviously, they (drug syndicates) will only support local candidates who will give them protection in return.”
He added: “Incumbent barangay officials, or prospective bets who are linked to drugs, may continue to lord it over the polls. We do not want that to happen. … We are appealing to the public to wisely choose our next community leaders.” (PNA)
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