Rama dares cops: Name drug lords supporting bets

CEBU, Philippines — Following reports that drug money may be used in the 2019 midterm elections, former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama dared the police to identify the drug lords who are giving financial support to candidates.

“How can they come out with conclusions if there is no court judgment? Mao na ang problema. It’s all insinuations, all accusations, and of course, suspicion,” he said.

Yesterday, he told reporters that police authorities should disclose the names of individuals who are allegedly into illegal activities so that the public would be aware of the personalities who may finance election bets.

Police Regional Office-7 director Chief Supt. Debold Sinas earlier said that in the past, drug personalities support election candidates so that their illegal activities will be protected by politicians.

He said naming drug lords would give a clear answer to insinuations or accusations that a certain politician is into illegal activities.

“Magsige estorya og drug money. Ako man gani, I will never because that was unfair and unreasonable, oppressive…I am looking for who is the drug lord that I am protecting. I have said I can never be an addict, I repeat. And I am not a drug protector,” Rama also said.

To recall, on August 6, 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte named Rama as among those narco-politicians in the country.

Rama stressed that candidates of Barug-PDP Laban, including himself, are not involved in the illegal drug trade and he is confident the allegations will not affect their candidacy.

“I don’t want to look at it because I am not running for mayor and I don’t think that Edgar (Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella) is into it,” he said.

Under Barug PDP-Laban, Labella is the standard bearer of the party while Rama is running for vice mayor.

In a separate interview, Labella agreed with the statement of Sinas because despite the fight against illegal drugs of the present administration, the problem is still present in the society.

“I agree with General Sinas and we have to be more vigilant in exercising our right of suffrage this election… The possibility is not remote so the citizenry must be very vigilant in supporting candidates,” he said.

Just like Rama, Labella said they will not accept drug money to finance their campaign as they will not tolerate such illegal act.

“Well of course, drug money can be used by these law breakers, but it will not happen to us because our group will never tolerate that,” he said.

Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos who is running for vice mayor under Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) told The FREEMAN that voters should be vigilant in the upcoming elections taking into the possibility that drug money may be used during the elections.

“That is more reason that we should be vigilant this elections. Drug money has no place during elections,” she said.

Her ally, Councilor Sisinio Andales does not agree with Sinas’ statement.

“That’s a sweeping and general statement and I beg to disagree with it,” he said. — MBG (FREEMAN)