File charges vs drug suspects – Robredo
Credit to Author: The Manila Times| Date: Sat, 06 Apr 2019 09:46:48 +0000
VICE President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo on Saturday called on the government to file charges against government officials suspected to be involved in the illegal drugs trade instead of releasing the names of those in the so-called narcolist.
Robredo said that if there was sufficient evidence against these officials, criminal charges should be filed against them in court.
“Kung mayroong ebidensya laban sa mayors or kung kanino man na involved sila sa drugs, bakit hindi kasuhan? Bakit idadaan sa lista-lista (If there is proof against the mayors or other government officials, why don’t they charge them? Why do they have to resort to releasing drug lists)?” Robredo said in an interview in Camarines Sur.
“Iyong problema kasi sa lista-lista, una, parang nagta-trial by publicity ka. Kung mayroon ka talagang ebidensya, kasuhan para nasa proper forum, para iyong kinakasuhan, mayroon ding pagkakataon na depensahan iyong sarili nila
(The problem with lists is, first, it is like trial by publicity. If you really have evidence, file a case in the proper forum, so that those being accused would have the chance to defend themselves),” she added.
She said the same should apply to the case of Paolo Duterte, the son of President Rodrigo Duterte, who was accused of being a member of a drug triad.
“Very serious iyong accusations, mas mabuti ilagay sa proper forum. Mahirap kasi itong narcolist nakalista, o video, o nilalagay sa social media, kasi wala tayong basehan kung ito ba ay totoo o hindi (The accusations are very serious, so it is best to bring the case to the proper forum. Releasing a narcolist, or uploading a video in social media is not right since we don’t know if the allegations are true or not),” she added.
A certain “Bikoy,” who claimed to be a former member of a large drug syndicate, alleged that Paolo was among the syndicate leaders who received kickbacks from the illegal drug trade.
Paolo has denied any involvement in the illegal drug trade.
On Friday, President Duterte came to his son’s defense, saying his family was not involved in illegal drugs. REINA C. TOLENTINO
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