BUTUAN (Philippines) - POLICE in the Philippines on Thursday said they had arrested a candidate running for governor in May elections on drugs charges, as part of a campaign against corrupt politicians.
Independent Ruperto Eludo Deguino was arrested on Tuesday after allegedly selling drugs to undercover agents in Surigao city on southern Mindanao island, provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Gilbert Cruz said. Five other people were also arrested in the raid.
Police seized a white powdered substance believed to be the banned drug metamphetamine hydrochloride as well as marked money, drug paraphernalia and digital weighing scales.
Mr Deguino, a businessman from a prominent family, is running for governor of Surigao del Norte province in nationwide elections in May.
The head of the country's drug enforcement agency, Dionisio Santiago, earlier said 'narco-politics' had become a major problem in the Philippines, where candidates use proceeds from illegal drugs to finance their campaigns. His agency estimated the illegal drugs trade rakes in about US$6.4 billion (S$9 billion) to 8.4 billion yearly.
Drug lords have become so rich that they are able to bankroll their own campaigns for public office, usually at the municipal level, or provide funds to their chosen candidates, the agency has said. -- AFP
