Duterte won’t name narco-pols running in 2019

President Duterte is not willing to release the names of suspected narco-politicians running in the 2019 elections.

After the Department of Interior and Local Government proposed the disqualification of candidates included in the drug list, the President admitted that he prefers not to "telegraph" government plans to people who break the country's laws.

"No, I will not. It’s not a good policy to let know the, to telegraph your intention or what you know about the other fellow, especially in matters of breaking penal laws," Duterte said during a press conference in Davao City yesterday after his arrival from Indonesia.

"No, I will not. We will not in government," he added.

The DILG recently announced it was seeking the disqualification of politicians included in the drug list from joining the 2019 elections. Around 93 local officials, including 58 mayors, were reportedly included in the government's list of personalities with suspected drug links.

The DILG likewise called for the disqualification of candidates linked to corruption. Around 250 mayors are reportedly under investigation for cases of corruption and abuse of authority, among others.

Jonathan Malaya, DILG assistant secretary, said they intend to submit the list of politicians with suspected drug links and other pending cases to the Commission on Elections after the period of filing of the Certificates of Candicacies.

“Ang naging pronouncement ni Secretary Eduardo Año is that we are going to release all of those narco-politicians and we are also going to forward to the Commission on Elections all of those lists, the narco-politicians and those with cases to the Commission on Elections for their proper disposition,” Malaya said. “Nasa Commission on Elections how they will handle that concern,” he added.

Malacañang has said the President was unlikely to support the DILG proposal, saying a person cannot be disqualified from running in the elections unless ordered by the court.