MANILA – Government officials and celebrities included in the “narco-list” must be charged first before their names are released publicly, according to Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.
By filing charges, those in the list made by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will have a chance to defend themselves, said Drilon in an interview on Sunday,
“Sa akin, sampahan ng kaso. Kapag nasampahan ng kaso, ‘e ‘di ilabas na,” the Ilonggo senator said. “Kapag nasampahan ng kaso, kahit sa piskalya lamang, at saka ilabas ang listahan.”
He added: “Ito ay para magkaroon naman ng pagkakataon ang kung sinuman ang napangalanan doon na sumagot doon sa piskalya o sa Ombudsman bago ilabas sa publiko.”
Drilon made the statement after President Rodrigo Duterte released the names of around 40 politicians in his list of drug personalities, while PDEA said last week that 31 celebrities are included in its list.
The Department of the Interior and the Local Government (DILG), meanwhile, said the personalities Duterte named were already facing complaints before the Ombudsman over their alleged drug activities prior to the list’s release.
The personalities’ involvement in the illegal drug trade, the DILG added, has been validated by the Interagency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs which is chaired by PDEA.
Drilon admitted that the proliferation of illegal drugs is a huge problem in the Philippines, but curbing it should be done in accordance with the law.
“Ang droga ay talagang malaking problema ng ating bansa, aminin na natin. Ngunit ang pamamaraan ng pagpigil sa droga ay dapat sang-ayon sa ating Saligang Batas,” Drilon said./PN
