ILOCOS Norte police confirmed that at least 39 candidates for the Barangay (village) and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on May 14 have derogatory records and several are involved in illegal drug activities. Romulo Sapitula, PRO1 director, has reportedly criticized several barangay officials running for reelection who are allegedly involved in illegal drugs. Meanwhile, authorities are monitoring at least 105 barangay officials linked to illegal drugs by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Western Visayas. Iloilo province has the most number of village officials linked to illegal drugs with 33; Antique, 25; and Negros Occidental, 24. Earlier, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino released the names of 207 village officials nationwide who are allegedly linked to illegal drugs, including one in Region 6.

Source: Manila Times May 05, 2018 16:18 UTC