DILG to voters: Remove barangay, SK officials involved in illegal drugs

The Department of Interior and Local Government on Saturday urged Filipino voters to use the upcoming Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in May as an opportunity to oust local officials with links to illegal drugs operations.

"This is the reason why we are urging the public to vote for candidates who are actively fighting the war against drugs in the Barangay level," DILG spokesman and assistant secretary Jonathan Malaya said Saturday in a statement.

Malaya's remark came after the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) revealed that a total of 289 barangay officials on the "narco list" of President Rodrigo Duterte.

"Should there be evidence against incumbent barangay officials, DILG OIC-Secretary Eduardo Año has directed the PNP to do case build-up so that the necessary charges can be filed against them without delay," Malaya added.

However, the DILG said it will be up to the PDEA whether it will release in public the names of the barangay officials included in the narco list.

The DEA is the one preparing the narco list, while the Interior department and its attached agencies provide information on the drug personalities and activities for PDEA's verification.

"The DILG, through the PNP, has been proactive in supporting PDEA in the war against illegal drugs. The public knows that the PNP has been going after drug personalities whether they be public officials or private individuals. The DILG will not waver in its commitment to end the menace of illegal drugs in our country and we will provide all the support needed by PDEA," Malaya added. —Jamil Santos/LBG, GMA News