Action demanded against officials with drug links

A congressman has called for the removal of any elected or appointed public official who is found to have benefited from the proceeds of drug money or received contributions or donations from convicted drug traffickers.

"The reason we cannot effectively stop the trafficking of illegal drugs is because there are people in power protecting so-called drug lords," said Congressman Raffy Biazon.

"The law against illegal drugs must include the punishment for elected and appointed officials who benefit from the proceeds of drug trafficking," Biazon added.

At the same time, the technical working group of the bicameral conference committee, which is drafting the final form of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, agreed with Biazon's call for a more comprehensive anti-illegal drugs law.