274 more names shortlisted?

Three former barangay officials in Cebu Province who were on the list of alleged narco-politicians released by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) will have to face criminal complaints, an official said.

PDEA 7 information officer Leia Albiar said they have sufficient evidence against these personalities, and that 274 other names are still being verified. Some of these personalities are in Central Visayas.

In a separate interview, however, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said he does not favor releasing a second list of barangay officials whom government agencies believe are involved in illegal drugs, unless charges are filed first.

An official of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) 7 pointed out that the recently released list of barangay officials PDEA said were involved in illegal drugs could be used as a “hit list” by vigilante groups.

Last Monday, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino released the names of 207 current and former village officials who, according to his agency, were linked to illegal drugs.

Three from Cebu are on it: Ramonette Durano, who was described as an ex-barangay captain of Suba, Danao City and now public information officer of Danao; Bibiano Cabaron, ex-barangay captain and now municipal councilor of Ronda; and Marc Ferdinand Bas, ex-barangay captain of Lagtang, Talisay.

Police arrested Bas, son of Talisay City Councilor Arturo Bas, last April 16, 2017 for alleged possession of guns and ammunition. He is out on bail, and his relatives have denied he was involved in any way with illegal drugs.

Danao City Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III and his son, Rep. Ramon “Red” Durano VI, both pointed out that Ramonette’s inclusion on the list was suspicious, since she had never been on the illegal drug watch list of the barangay or the Danao City police. Ramonette is Nito’s daughter.

She also reiterated that PDEA made its list using information from its own intelligence work, the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces, and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

Durano, Cabaron and Bas are not running for any barangay position on May 14, but Albiar said that voters can be guided if these personalities are publicly supporting candidates.

However, Governor Davide said he was baffled that PDEA released the list, even if no charge has been filed against the personalities. A second list is reportedly set to be released before the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections on May 14.

CHR 7 chief investigator Leo Villarino criticized PDEA for releasing the names, saying it could be used by criminal groups to target those listed. He’s worried that the government may have committed “irreparable damage” to the reputation of those listed.

“What happens if they find out that an official on that list is not guilty of being involved in illegal drugs?”