82 politicians in narcolist
Credit to Author: RALPH VILLANUEVA| Date: Tue, 05 Mar 2019 16:15:06 +0000
Malacañang on Tuesday said the government would release next week the “validated” narcolist, which, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) contains the names of 82 narco-politicians.
Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said President Rodrigo Duterte was keen on releasing the list. The issue, he added, was discussed after the Cabinet meeting on Monday night.
PDEA Chief Aaron Aquino revealed that 64 politicians 0n the narcolist were re-electionists.
Quoting Interior Secretary Eduardo Año, Panelo said the government would file administrative and criminal cases against those in the narcolist. Government officials in the list could be suspended once the drug charges were filed.
Panelo justified the looming release of the list, saying Filipinos had the right to know who were on the narcolist.
“While we appreciate and understand the well-meaning individuals, saying that the release of the narcolist may violate the presumption of innocence, we’d like to tell them that the Constitution gives the people the right to know matters of public concerns especially those that concern their lives and welfare,” he said.
“We have placed the drug problem as a national security. In other words, we are on the precipice of destruction if we cannot stop this drug industry. We cannot allow people to run local governments — the barangay (villages) — by the destroyers of society,” he added.
He said the candidates included on the list had “waived” their right to be presumed innocent.
“You give people a chance to defend themselves,which is why there is a constitutional presumption of innocence. But how can you demand that you are presumed innocent when you are involved in something criminal?” he pointed out.
“The due process clause applies to life, liberty or property. The release of the list does not even enter any of these [categories,] because you do not deprive them of these three things when you release the list,” he added.
According to Panelo, the validated drug list was a product of wiretapped information sent by other countries.
The Palace official said Israel, the US, Russia and China “voluntarily” provided the Philippines with vital information on the drug suspects.
“All countries help each other in fighting terrorism and criminality. In the course of this cooperation, they give information,” he said.
The spokesman said there was nothing wrong with other countries wiretapping suspected Filipino criminals.
“There are no laws saying it is illegal to provide us with information. In fact, we should be thankful that we are provided with information relative to criminal activities in the country,” Panelo said.
He downplayed the warning of the Commission on Human Rights that the release of the narcolist would result in violence.
“It’s a fair game for all candidates who are involved in the drug industry. They know what they are doing is something that is destructive of the fabric of society. So when their names are listed there, they take that risk,” he said.
Aquino, however, said he was against the release of the narcolist before the midterm elections.
In a news briefing, Aquino said he had not changed his stand on the issue.
“It’s not true that PDEA will release the narcolist. First and foremost, we still remain on my stand from the start [that] I don’t want the list to be revealed or to be disclosed even before the filing of COCs (certificate of candidacy),” he said.
Aquino previously said he would prefer to file charges against narcopoliticians “quietly” instead of publicizing the list.
Año earlier said the narcolist would be released to guide voters.
Aquino said there are 82 names on the list because Datu Salibo, Maguindanao Mayor Franco Salasal was stricken off the list after his arrest for murder and illegal possession of firearms on February 24.
“It’s down to 82 narco-politicians. If it is going to be revealed next week, I just hope we can finish the revalidation of the list,” he said.
With Roy d.r. Narra
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