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Candidates who are allegedly linked to drugs and corruption and who are seeking elective posts in the 2019 polls may not be barred from running that easy.

Interior Undersecretary and Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año said the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would have to observe certain laws in banning candidates from running in the midterm elections next year.

Año earlier said that he would recommend the disqualification from the 2019 elections of local officials linked to corruption and to the illegal drug trade.

READ: DILG chief seeks disqualification of ‘narcopols’ from 2019 elections

“Pero based pala sa mga existing batas natin, kailangan pala may final conviction para madisqualify (But based on our existing laws, there has to be a final conviction for them to be disqualified),” he later said in an ambush interview on Tuesday.

“Masyadong napakataas ng standard. Even ‘yun daw nakakulong, kahit nakakulong siya kaya pa rin niyang kumandidato (The standard is really high. Even those who are jailed can still run),” he also said.

Año, however, clarified that he only wants drug lords to be banned from securing elective positions.

He said they will coordinate with Comelec on what can be done about the matter.

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Año also lauded officials of political parties like Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, president of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan who said he will not allow politicians linked to illegal drugs to run under the party’s slate.

“Napakaganda ng statement na ‘yun. Sana sundan ng ibang parties (That statement is really good. I hope other parties would follow that),” Año said. /muf

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