Reveal barangay officials on ‘narco-list’ now, solon tells PDEA

What happened to the plan of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to reveal a list of nearly 300 barangay officials who they claimed had links to the illegal drug trade, a Mindanao lawmaker wondered aloud Tuesday.

"Nasaan na ang listahan ng

mga umano’y 289 na barangay officials na sangkot illegal drugs? (Where is the list of 289 alleged barangay officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs?)" asked Iligan lone district Representative Frederick Siao.

"Was that just a ploy, a slip of the tongue, a ‘misquote,’ or a PR (public relations) stunt? If the PDEA does have such a list, then now is the time to fully disclose that list," Siao said.

Siao, a member of the House Suffrage and Electoral Reforms Committee, said that the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections are just three weeks away.

The village and youth polls were originally scheduled to take place in October, 2016, but Congress legislated in favor of postponing them twice because of the supposed grip of illegal drugs on local executives.

40% of barangay officials involved

President Duterte has repeatedly said that up to 40 percent of all barangay officials in the country are involved in the narcotics trade. Duterte won the presidency on the promise to eradicate the drug menace.

The House of Representatives sought to defer the synchronized polls for a third time, even passing a bill on third and final reading last March. However, the Senate failed to act on it, thus paving the way for the polls on May 14.

Last week, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said they would release to the public the list of 289 village officials linked to illegal drugs. He said those officials – composed of barangay chairmen and councilmen (kagawad) – are all from Eastern Visayas.

"Now is not the time for PDEA to lose credibility over this matter. What is PDEA waiting for? Reveal the list as it is now and the reasons those barangay officials are on that list," Siao said.

"Inform the public and give the officials allegedly involved the fair chance to respond to the allegations," he said.

‘Be choosy’

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde has reiterated his appeal to the public to refrain from voting officials who are known for their illegal drug activities.

"I am hoping that the public will really be choosy in picking those who will be elected officials," he said.

PNP’s list

He said the PNP's drugs watch list include barangay officials but they are not at liberty to disclose it to the public.

"We have no authority to reveal it to the public not unless we have an instruction from the commander-in-chief (President Duterte), himself. What's important here is that they will be given due process," he explained.

24,424 barangays affected

PDEA's Aquino has been quoted as saying as that out of the 24,424 drugaffected barangays, some 15,290 were classified as “slightly affected [by illegal drugs],” while 9,089 were “moderately affected." Some 45 barangays were “seriously affected.”

"The shortest list is that of the 45 barangays 'seriously affected.' That is one list the people can easily understand because it is not too long. Where is that list? Reveal that also," Siao told PDEA.

There are over 42,000 barangays in the Philippines.

175,000 cops to be deployed

Meanwhile, Albayalde said the PNP will be deploying 90 percent of its 195,000-strong police force, or around 175,000 cops, for the synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on May 14.

Earlier, the PNP identified 7,544 election hotspots around the country, but not all are dangerous places. (With a report from Martin Sadongdong)