Palace says narco-pols cannot be disqualified

MANILA, Philippines — Politicians accused of involvement in illegal drugs trade could not be barred from running during the 2019 elections unless the court convicts them with finality, Malacañang said Thursday.  

Interior and local government officer-in-charge Eduardo Año has asked the Commission on Elections to disqualify candidates included in the list of officials with alleged ties to illicit drugs in next year's polls. Año has expressed concern that the candidates in the narco list would use drug money to buy votes. 

But presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the proposal may not be doable. 

"Point well taken but the president is a lawyer. He knows that they cannot be disqualified unless they have been convicted with finality and that the accessory penalty for disqualification from public office has been decreed by the court," Roque said in a press briefing.  

Año previously revealed that at least 93 local officials, 58 of them mayors, are included in the narco list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. 

President Rodrigo Duterte has threatened to suspend mayors who could not control illegal drugs within their jurisdiction. He has also promised to strip local executives of their authority over the police if they fail to curb narcotics trade in their areas. 

The interior and local government department is also pushing for the disqualification of candidates linked to corruption. At least 250 mayors are being proved for corruption and abuse of authority, Año said. 

The filing of candidacy for next year's polls will be from October 11 to 17.