NARCO-POLITICS 'ACTIVE' IN 5 BARANGAYS

NARCO-politics is allegedly "active" in five Cebu City barangays, said
Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem.

Despite the Catholic Churcha TMs appeal to fight the use of drugs and money
to win votes, Jakosalem claimed having received reports that drug money
will be the key to a candidate's victory in these five barangays.

Citing information from his police sources, Jakosalem identified the
barangays as Kamagayan, T. Padilla, Lorega, Ermita and Pasil-Abuno.

Jakosalem, chairman of the committee on dangerous drugs, further said that
families engaged in the drug business will be supporting candidates.

According to Jakosalem, the "deal" is to reportedly give voters P100 worth
of shabu and P100 in cash.

"In fact, some of these users are already registered," Jakosalem added
saying these "supporters" have already identified the users in their areas.

He was not sure, though, if the candidates are "directly" involved in the
drug distribution to secure votes.

Acting Cebu City Police Chief Josephus Angan, for his part, vowed to alert
the CCPO's Drug Enforcement Unit on the report and assured to investigate
the matter.

"Of course, we will look into the reports and mobilize our precinct chiefs
to conduct follow-ups," Angan said they will step up their visibility in
preparation for Monday's polls.

Angan also said that depending on the result of the follow-up and
verifications, they might conduct operations this weekend to apprehend the
perpetrators.

Calls to fight narco-politics were stepped up following the arrest of a
Tabogon Councilor Pacifico Manloloyo during a raid last Thursday.

Confiscated from Manluluyo were five decks and three sachets of shabu.

Cebu Gov. Pablo Garcia, however, considered the case as isolated since the
investigation is still on going.

But as a party mate, Garcia said that he has not received reports that
Manluluyo is into illegal drugs.

Appeal

In a pastoral letter, Cardinal Vidal launched a campaign against the
dangers of narco-politics saying citizens should ensure "that the
candidates they vote for are not tainted with drug money."

"If the proliferation of illegal drugs is in itself a big problem,
narco-politics is an allied danger lurking in the shadows," Vidal had said.

Narco-politics, according to Vidal, is the "use of drug money to corrupt
and usurp the political system, making it subservient to the illegal drug
trade."

"The goal is to set up a 'narco-state' where political patronage is in the
hands of drug lords and election campaigns are financed using profits from
illegal drugs. Resort to terror then becomes the means of maintaining
power," Vidal had said.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osme thanked Jakosalem for his report and at the same
time lauded Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal for "educating the
people on the dangers of narco-politics."

The mayor added that Cardinal Vidal's message should serve as a spiritual
guidance and provides moral direction to the people.

"These supporters control the votes, and in the barangay elections,
candidates need their help badly. This may not mean you compromise your
stand but you (barangay candidates) must get support wherever they can get
it," Osme explained on why it is inevitable for some barangay candidates
to be identified as being supported by drug traders.

Garcia, on the other hand, said that as public servants and legislators,
"we should be the first one to implement the law".

Drug addiction, Garcia added, is considered as the most critical problem in
society since it can destroy the lives of the people who are using illegal
drugs.

"Si (Tabogon) Councilor (Pacifico) Manluluyo naguba na iyang reputation.
Dili gyud ni maayo," he added.

Garcia also thanked the Catholic Church for advocating against the use of
"drug money".

"I am thankful because they are very effective in telling the people that
drugs should be stopped through regular masses," he said.