Being a criminal is no deterrent to running for political office in the Philippines – as shown when the ex-governor of Davao del Sur, Douglas Cagas won a gubernatorial race this week.
Cagas voluntarily surrendered to the Davao del Sur Provincial Police Office in October 2014. He was accused of killing news reporter Nestor Bedolido in June 2010 and had avoided capture for almost four years.
On Monday, Cagas won by over 18,000 votes over his rival.
He officially filed a proxy by authorizing his wife who is also a politician – Mercedes Cagas is a representative of Davao del Sur’s 1st District.
Officially Cagas is not convicted and can run by filing a COC which gives many in the country a free ticket to collect, run and extort straight from their jail cells.