CEBU CITY – The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) on Saturday said it will publicly announce the names of candidates with pending drug cases in court or are known to be drug users in their respective areas to inform and guide the electorate accordingly in making choices amongst the candidates running in the 2010 national and local elections.

DDB Undersecretary Paul Oaminal said his office will not campaign against the said candidates but will instead hold public forums and gatherings during which the DDB will reveal the background of candidate or the drug cases the candidate is involved in.

“We have to do this to ensure that the public is aware of candidates seeking local positions who are drug personalities or have pending drug cases. We don’t want a government governed by drug lords,” said Oaminal.

Oaminal said the DDB will have to wait until the end of the filing of certificate of candidacies (CoCs) before it starts to sort out the names of candidates who are in the list of drug personalities or have pending drug cases in court.

“During the campaign period, I will personally announce the activities of these drug personalities around the country. I know the local populace knows who these candidates are, but we will still hold gatherings to educate the public,” said Oaminal.

Oaminal made the pronouncement after “businessman” Cresistomo Llaguno filed his CoC for councilor at the Comelec Cebu City office last Friday. Known locally as Tata Negro, Llaguno indicated “businessman” as his occupation, although according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) he is confirmed as one of the big-time drug pushers in Cebu City.

Cebu City Police Office Director Patrocinio Comendador said he will not oppose the candidacy of Llaguno as he has to remain neutral. He said while it was true that Llaguno faced several drug-related cases filed by his office, the police will not object to his running for office.

“It is the people who will ultimately decide whom to vote for. The decision whether he can run or not rests with the Commission on Elections,” said Comendador.

Though he has not been convicted, Comendador said Llaguno has pending cases in court. He assured that the police will not single out any candidate but will monitor all those who are reported to be involved in illegal activities.

Comendador said Llaguno had been arrested before for possession of illegal drugs, gambling and robbery, among others. But a friend of Llaguno, Vice Mayor Michael Rama, said he does not see any wrong with Llaguno’s move.

Rama clarified that no one can prevent anyone who wishes to join the electoral process as it is constitutionally protected.

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, on the other hand, said he was surprised when he learned about Llaguno’s political ambitions but stressed that Llaguno has no chance of winning due to his “doubtful and disputable reputation."