ARMM to recognize only poll winners negative to drugs

COTABATO CITY --- The local government department of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will only issue certificate of recognition to elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials who shall test negative to drugs.Lawyer Kirby Abdullah, regional secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government-ARMM, said Tuesday they have four requirements for the certificate, one of them a printout of drug test result from any government hospital.Each of the proclaimed barangay and SK official also need to submit to DILG-ARMM their statements of assets and liabilities, personal data sheets, and copies of certificate of poll canvass authenticated by election officials in their respective provinces.Chief Superintendent Graciano Mijares of the Police Regional Office-ARMM said Tuesday they support the effort of the regional government to determine if winners in Monday’s barangay and SK polls are not hooked to illegal drugs.Abdullah said they will not issue certificate of recognition to proclaimed barangay and SK officials without the four requisite documents.