More CL narco-politicians will be named – PNP chief

CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — President Duterte will reveal more names of narcopoliticians in Central Luzon, Director General Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa warned yesterday.

Speaking at the 116th Police Service Anniversary celebration, here, the Philippine National Police (PNP) chief said he will stop short of naming names, but said officials linked to illegal drugs included five congressmen, five mayors, and a vice governor.

“Nasa process pa ng validation ngayon para hindi magmintis, pero bahala na si President magbanggit ng mga pangalan nila (It’s in the process of validation to avoid mistake, but the President will take care of naming them),” Dela Rosa said.

Asked to clarify if these officials are all incumbents, he said in Filipino that “some of them are.”

Earlier this month, Duterte disclosed names of politicians, members of the judiciary and law enforcers allegedly linked to illegal drugs. Two of those named or renamed in Central Luzon were an incumbent mayor in Bulacan and a former mayor in Pampanga.

Meanwhile, the PNP chief called on the public to support the government’s campaign against illegal gambling even as he admitted that there are “untouchables” involved in the operation of illegal vices, particularly in Central Luzon.

He said that illegal numbers game particularly “jueteng” still exists in many parts of the country, with some operators apparently using the Small Town Lottery (STL) as a front for these illegal activities.

“Kailangan paigtingin pa natin ang kampanya sa illegal gambling. Dapat maging sincere din ang ating kapulisan sa pagsugpo nito at yung mga operators na lumabag ay kailangan arestuhin agad (We need to intensify the campaign against illegal gambling. Our police must be sincere in doing so and operators who are defiant must be arrested immediately),” Dela Rosa said.