AN OFFICIAL of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) is urging voters to scrutinize all aspirants bidding for village positions that may have connection to illegal drug activities.
Cocpo spokesperson Mardy Hortillosa II said it remains uncertain if re-electionists and candidates for the May 14 village and youth polls that figured in the drug list of President Rodrigo Duterte would be made public.
Superintendent Hortillosa said Cocpo holds a list of incumbent barangay officials and aspirants being involved in the illegal drug transactions.
"Naa tay listahan sa incumbent ug mga modaganay nga atong i-submit either sa Comelec or DILG para ma-address ni ug mahatagan og aksyon kung makadagan ba or dili (We have a list of incumbent and aspirants who are involved in illegal drug activities which will be submitted either to Comelec or DILG so it would be addressed)," Hortillosa said.
Hortillosa could not elaborate the details of the said list saying it is in the hands of the intelligence unit.
The Cocpo spokesman said what he initially knew was drug personalities who run for office in the barangay should be made public so voters would known.
Hortillosa said the police has no authority to bar these candidates from running in the upcoming elections.
"Wala pa ko idea unsaon ni pag-handle kay wala man guidelines so depende na lang sa Comelec kay sila man mo-decide kung makadagan or dili ang kandidato (I have no idea how it would be handled because we dont have guidelines yet. It is up for the Comelec which has the authority to declare who are allowed to run or not)," Hortillosa said.
But, Hortillosa said should the names of the would-be village and youth officials remain confidential and undisclosed, voters would have to peruse and look into every candidate who will ask for support during the campaign.
He said voters should be smart enough in choosing their leaders because personalities linked to illegal drug trade have the capacity to buy vote.
"Dapat susihon gyud og maayo kinsay botaran ug dili matintal sa kwarta kay kining involved sa droga kaya nila mopalit og boto (They should examine thoroughly who will they vote because those linked to drugs have the capacity to buy votes)," Hortillosa said.