Drugs overtakes jueteng as source of pols' campaign funds - priest

MANILA, Philippines - Several candidates have been getting money from drug and jueteng syndicates in preparation for the mid-term elections next year, a ranking Catholic Church official said on Friday.

Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Emeritus Oscar Cruz said these politicians are bankrolling the money from these organized crime groups for campaign funds.

Cruz made the revelation after receiving reports from their informants that aside from the usual jueteng payola, politicians are also relying on drug money to be used for their campaign in the May 2013 elections.

He, however, did not elaborate on the reports.

“Sa ngayon,ang nakakarating sa amin ay talagang droga. Mas maraming pera sa droga kaysa jueteng. Mas masigasig ngayon ang drug money as campaign fund ng mga pulitiko. Pero hindi matatanggihan na itong jueteng ay nandyan din. Pero sa aming information ay nakakaangat ngayon ang droga," Cruz told Radyo Veritas.

He said that the report is more alarming because many of the crimes at present are drug-related cases.

The prelate also called on the Aquino administration to intensify its anti-crime programs to curb the problems of illegal drugs in the country.

"Wala akong problema sa legislative dahil napakarami ng batas ang ginawa para masugpo ang droga. Ikalawa, ang judiciary, ay andyan naman kahit mabagal...Ang talagang hindi nagtatrabaho ang executive department from top to bottom. Ang mga pulis, marami pa ang salbahe kesa sa matino," Cruz said.