By Chito Chavez Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) officer-in-charge (OIC) Eduardo Año said they are gathering evidence that will pin down local officials trying to manipulate the election results by compelling the electorate to vote for their desired barangay officials. DILG officer-in-charge (OIC) Eduardo M. Año (AP Photo/Bullit Marquez / MANILA BULLETIN) Reports reaching his office confirmed that a number of local officials mostly mayors are supposedly conditioning their constituents to vote straight in favor of their chosen political parties in the coming village polls. Año said they are gathering proofs to ensure that appropriate airtight cases may be filed against the guilty parties. The DILG chief said that they had already sent show-cause orders to the concerned parties and have asked them to explain while pieces of evidence are being gathered to substantiate further the report his office had received. The DILG is particularly zeroing in on areas where there are no candidates for the position of kagawad or Sangguniang Kabataan chairmen. It was also disclosed that around five percent of those named in the narco-list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agncy (PDEA) are running in the coming polls. Earlier, Philippine National Police Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde assured the accuracy of the PDEA released narco-list. PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino explained that the narco-list was validated by four reputable law enforcement agencies adding that the roster is not a hit list. He assured that due process will be accorded to the barangay officials included in the narco-list. The DILG, PNP, and PDEA urged the public not only to shun barangay aspirants with illegal drug links but also to vote for candidates that will truly serve the interest of the public.)