POLICE authorities revealed that drug money will flood the May elections as drug lords bankroll and provide campaign funds for their favored candidates while expecting something in return once these candidates win. Or drug lords themselves will venture into politics. Well, we cannot discount this possibility. Drug lords will look for connections in the political circle to protect their illegal drug trade.
We have heard people who were linked to the illegal drug trade venturing into politics. The case of the late Albuera, Leyte Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr., the father of confessed drug lord Kerwin Espinosa Jr. Though his roots were in that town, he was virtually unknown there as he was just an ordinary person. But when Kerwin’s illegal drug trade business blossomed, the father was encouraged to join politics. And, indeed, because of money, he won.
Unfortunately, his stint in politics was short-lived. Upon the assumption of President Duterte in 2016, Espinosa’s house was raided and he was arrested. He was jailed and shot dead by police operatives inside the jail. Had Espinosa not been killed, I am sure he could have controlled politics in that place and his illegal drug trade could have flourished.
Look at the Parojinogs in Ozamis City. They practically controlled everything, not only in politics but including legal and illegal businesses in the city and its neighboring towns in Misamis Occidental. They were feared and were untouchables because the family controlled the dreaded Kuratong Baleleng Gang. Many known drug lords joined politics because of power and money and to protect their illegal businesses.
I know that there are so many Pablo Escobars in our midst. We don’t even know if they are in our locality. Escobar was a known and powerful drug lord in Colombia in the ‘70s. He rose from the ranks in the illegal drug trade syndicate. During his prime, his group controlled 80 percent of the distribution of cocaine in the United States, earning him the rank of one of the 10 wealthiest people in the world in the Forbes Magazine.
On his other side, he earned popularity by sponsoring charity projects and sports clubs. He was a philanthropist. But later he engaged in terror campaigns that resulted in the murder of thousands and public opinion turned against him.
In 1982, he joined politics and was elected as an alternate member of the Colombian Congress. But the reason for his wealth could not stay hidden and two years after his election, he was forced to resign. He planned to run for President. He was killed by authorities in 1993.
That is why I am in favor that the list of narco-politicians should be exposed so the public will know who they will be electing. We don’t know where some of these politicians get their money to finance their candidacy or who provided them with campaign funds. We don’t even know if some of them are in the illegal drug trade like those personalities I mentioned above.
Some sectors are concerned of the human rights of these politicians as their right to being presumed innocent will be violated if the list will be made public. But which do you prefer? Violation of human rights, or a politician who will become a “merchant of death” once elected?