PDEA chief: Don’t vote for narco politicians

MANILA, Philippines — The head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) yesterday urged the public not to vote for narco politicians involved in vote-buying in the coming midterm elections. 

PDEA director general Aaron Aquino said that money used for vote-buying could only be earnings from the illegal drug trade. 

“People are now aware of dirty politicians buying votes so the voters should just get the money but do not vote for such politicians,” he said in Filipino over radio dzMM. 

Aquino said the public would only suffer if these narco politicians are re-elected into office. 

Re-election of politicians involved in the drug trade would also make it harder for law enforcers to crack down on illegal drugs. 

He noted the participation of politics in drug activities varies, from coddlers to drug users and actual drug lords. 

Aquino called on the voters not to pick politicians involved in crimes, illegal drugs and corruption. 

He earlier said that there are still 83 narco politicians in the list of President Duterte, who is the only one who can approve the delisting of names from the narcolist.