PHILIPPINES
Manila Bulletin-Apr 26
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director-General Aaron N. Aquino confirmed yesterday that more barangay officials will be included in the narco-list of President Duterte to be released on May 1.
He said the initial list of 211 barangay officials allegedly involved in the illegal drugs trade have already been verified.
The number of barangay officials included in the roster are drug users and drug pushers, but most of them are illegal drug protectors.
On Wednesday, PDEA said the President had ordered the agency to reveal the identities of barangay officials included in the narco-list within the week.
But with the additional names submitted by Malacañang, Aquino said they would instead reveal the list by Tuesday next week.
Of the 211 barangay officials on the list, 89 are barangay chairpersons while the rest are barangay kagawads.
Public has the right to know
Malacañang has defended the release of the names of barangay officials allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade, saying the public has the right to know the list.
The list of the drug-linked barangay officials will hopefully discouraged voters from electing them in office in the barangay elections next month, according to Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.
“The President has already ordered the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to disclose the names of barangay officials included in its list of all those allegedly involved in the illegal drugs trade,” Roque said during a Palace press briefing.
“That’s within the powers of the Executive to warn the people on the possible drug personalties who may be elected into public office. That’s the judgment call of the President. The voters are entitled to this information,” he added.
No persecution
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año expressed full support on the move to make public all the barangay officials with links to the local drug trade.
“The voters must know the truth about their candidates. Everyone must be accountable for himself and for what he did in the past specially if he is running for a public position,” said Año in a text message to reporters.
“Let the voters decide. I don’t think its persecution. I trust PDEA,” Año added. (With reports from Genalyn D. Kabiling and Aaron B. Recuenco)
