Eleazar warns candidates against colluding with drug syndicates

On the second day of the filing of certificates of candidacy for the 2022 national and local polls, the Philippine National Police warned candidates against colluding with drug syndicates for a financial boost in their campaign efforts.

PNP chief Police General Guillermo Eleazar said syndicates may offer to finance candidates' campaigns in exchange for protection once elected.

“Hindi natin papayagan ito kaya inatasan ko na ang ating PDEG at Intelligence Group na tingnang mabuti ang ganitong posibilidad,” Eleazar said in a statement.

(We will not allow this to happen, so we have ordered the PDEG --Philippine Drug Enforcement Group -- and the Intelligence Group to monitor such possibilities.)

“Binabalaan ko ang mga kandidato na huwag mamuhunan sa iligal na droga sa kanilang kandidatura dahil ako mismo ang mag-e-expose sa inyo at mangunguna sa pagsampa ng disqualification at mga kaukulang kaso kapag nakakalap kami ng sapat na ebidesya laban sa inyo,” he added.

[I am warning all candidates against falling for the drug lords' money because I will expose you, and I will lead in the filing of disqualification and other charges against you.]

Eleazar cited the case of a former mayor of Panukalan town, Quezon, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for transporting 500 kilograms of shabu.

Data from the PNP show that more than P64 billion worth of shabu has been seized since 2016 under government’s controversial war on drugs.

Also, the PNP said that more than 300,000 illegal drug personalities, including 13,244 high-value targets, have been arrested.

Due to the Duterte administration's bloody war on drugs, the International Criminal Court has recently authorized the start of its investigation into the Philippines' human rights situation. —LBG, GMA News