ILOILO CITY, (PNA) — Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog said he is verifying reports on barangay candidates being supported by drug financiers as he urged his constituents to vote wisely in the Oct. 28 barangay elections.
Barangay voters must not succumb to bribery perpetuated by some candidates using money from illegal drugs, he said.
Although he admitted that narco-politics is possible in the barangay elections, Mabilog said he was told by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) that drug proliferation in the city is on a manageable level.
PDEA has identified at least 20 city barangays seriously affected by the illegal drug trade.
PDEA-6 Regional Director Paul Ledesma reported to Mabilog that 20 new drug-related cases are currently being pursued by the anti-drug agency.
The city mayor said there is a budget for barangay anti-illegal drug action programs in 2011, 2012 and 2013.
It is up to the Iloilo City Anti-Drug Abuse Committee to use the budget, Mabilog said.