Celebrities found to be involved in illegal drugs to be charged

The government is inclined to file cases against certain celebrities if there will be sufficient evidence showing their involvement in the illegal drug trade, President Duterte declared last Saturday.

The President would rather take such legal action than reveal the reported list of celebrities with suspected drug links, saying he would not unnecessarily put them to shame.

“Ito ba ‘yung mga artista gusto ninyo ilabas… [You want the release of the names of celebrities] You know, what would be the purpose? Hindi naman sila [They are not] people seeking public office so there’s really no need,” Duterte said during his visit to Iloilo City Saturday.

“I-file na lang namin if the evidence, ‘yung na-gather is sufficient. But I will not unnecessarily put to shame ‘yung mga artista. Civilian ‘yan [We will just file it if the evidence gathered is sufficient. But I will not unnecessarily put to shame the celebrities. They are civilians],” he said.

The President, on the other hand, said he was taking responsibility for publicly naming the politicians with alleged drug involvement. He explained that the public has the right to know if these persons would be an asset or liability in government.

“You run the risk always because you are aspiring a public office and everybody should know whether you are a liability to the government or an asset. ‘Yan ang purpose ko diyan [That’s my purpose],” he said.

Duterte said that he did not personally know the politicians linked to illegal drug trade. He also did not read the “dossier or documents incriminating them” until the day of the public release.

“Pero ako ang nagbigay ng final. Totoo

‘yan, ako ‘yan. I take full responsibility for that. Pero hindi ko kilala ‘yan [But I had the final say. That’s true, that’s me. I take full responsibility for that. But I don’t really know them],” Duterte said.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) earlier said there were 31 television and movie celebrities in its watchlist. They were supposedly using cocaine, marijuana, shabu and party drugs.

PDEA director general Aaron Aquino has refused to name the celebrities, saying their links to the drug trade have not yet been validated.

Earlier, the President read the names of more than 40 politicians, including candidates in the upcoming elections who are allegedly involved in illegal drugs. Administrative cases have been filed against these druglinked officials before the Office of the Ombudsman.