NARCO LIST MUST BE OUT: GOV’T.

Palace official says PDEA’s narco list will still be released despite protests from rights groups

Nothing will stop the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) from disclosing the names of village officials allegedly included in the government’s drug watchlist, Malacañang said Thuesday, April 26.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said President Rodrigo Duterte made a judgment call when he ordered the release of the list.

“The President has already ordered the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency to disclose the names of barangay officials included in its list of all those allegedly involved in the illegal drugs trade,” the Palace official said.

“I confirm that the order was given. That’s a judgment call of the President,” he added.

The PDEA is finalizing the list and targets to release it on Monday, April 30, upon approval by the President.

Ahead of the May 14 village and youth council elections, the PDEA announced that some 211 incumbent village officials have been linked to the rampant narcotics trade.

The impending release of names of the so-called “narco” village officials comes amid the President’s worry that drug money may be used to finance candidates in the coming twin elections.

Such move was opposed by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), which said that making public accusations without due process “subjects those concerned to undue shame, violates their right to fair trial, erodes their dignity, and results to suffering of their families.”

While the CHR said it understood the PDEA’s plan, it stressed that the presumption of innocence and right to due process must not be compromised as there were Constitutional guarantees to protect human rights at all times.

“If the intention is to cleanse the local government from those involved in drugs, the legal process is the best way to ensure that those proven to be erring local executives can no longer serve or return to public office,” the CHR said in a statement on April 20.

Roque, however, emphasized that Duterte’s directive was meant to sternly warn the public against those who seek to hold posts in villages, but are connected with drug syndicates.