SECRETARY Martin Andanar of the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) recently urged the Philippine National Police and the Department of Interior and Local Government to release to the public the drug watch lists containing names of barangay officials involved in illegal drugs.

Andanar said the release of names of barangay officials in the drug watch lists will “guide voters” in next month’s barangay and sangguniang kabataan elections (BSKE).

In a talk to mediamen in Pangasinan during the “Tongtongan ed PIA at Le Duc Hotel on Thursday, Andanar said it is the responsibility of the government to release the information that the people need to know so they can decide what actions to take to ensure better governance in their respective villages.

He made the call in response to the statement of the Commission on Elections that the submission of the results of drug tests is voluntary on the part of BSKE candidates.

Quoting Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez, he said anyone including an accused, drug lord, drug peddler and drug user who had not been convicted of violating Republic Act No. 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, may seek a post in BSKE this year.

To warn the public, Andanar said, it becomes necessary for the PNP and DILG to release the drug watch lists so that voters are duly warned.

The PCOO secretary was guest of honor and speaker during the Commencement Exercises of the Lyceum Northwestern University on April 19 and interacted with youngsters in the Youth-Meet-and-Greet program during a basketball shootfest at the North Central Elementary School in Barangay Bonuan Gueset.

He stressed that the barangay, although the smallest, is the basic branch of the government, that is why the BSKE are very important. “If one can solve the problems in the barangays, he can solve the problems of the whole nation,” he said.

Andanar advised voters in the barangays to make sure that the officials they will vote into office are not drug users, not involved in illegal drug trade, not corrupt and can fight criminality.

Andanar also lauded the Pangasinan provincial government for putting up the Pangasinan Reformation Center which already served and rehabilitated an initial 28 reformed drug users and pushers.

He also congratulated and thanked the Pangasinan police for helping make the towns and cities in the province drug-free.

He cited the dramatic decrease in the crime rate in the province: from 1,172 in the first quarter of 2016 to 1,153 in the first quarter of 2017, and further down to 811 in the first quarter of 2018. (Leonardo Micua)

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