THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is not yet done with the re-validation of the list of politicians allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.
PDEA Chief Aaron Aquino said he was instructed to release the list of narco-politicians but did not heed the order as the re-validation is not yet complete.
"As of now, there is an instruction for PDEA to disclose list. I can't do it right now because we haven't finished the re-validation of the narco-politicians," Aquino said during a meeting with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Dangerous Drugs Board on Monday, March 4.
"Kung next week, I just hope we can finish the re-validation of this list," he added.
Aquino said 82 politicians are on the list, and 64 of them are seeking re-election in the midterm polls.
He said the number may still go up after the validation, as there are more politicians in the national drug information system.
Some of those included in the list were drug lords, while the others provide protection to the illegal drug trade in their areas, he added.
Aquino reiterated his stand that he is not in favor of releasing the list prior to re-validation, saying it would be unfair for those in the list.
He said it will also be better if they will be able to obtain solid pieces of evidence against the politicians and directly file charges against them. He noted, though, that building cases against the politicians is not easy.
Aquino said the DILG is already preparing the charges to be filed against some of those in the list.
“It's really hard to build cases against these politicians. Easy to say that bakit hindi ka nag-case buildup. Napakahirap mag-case build-up (It's very difficult to do a case build-up),” he said.
He said, though, that he will reveal the names if President Rodrigo Duterte will order him to publicize the list.
Earlier, Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said Duterte has already given the green light to release the list.
"If it will be ordered by the President na this list will be revealed, I should abide by that. I think hindi binigay sa PDEA 'yung authority to disclose the list but instead, that's with the SILG (Secretary of Interior and Local Government)," Aquino said.
DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, for his part, said he is inclined to release the list, particularly of those seeking re-election, so voters will no longer vote for those included in the list.
Human rights advocates and lawmakers earlier denounced the plan of the government to release such list.
"Hindi puwedeng maglabas ng listahan kung wala kang due process of law...Kung gusto mong habulin 'yan, kasuhan mo (It's not right to release the list without due process...If you want to run against those narco-politicians, charge them in court)," Senate committee on justice and human rights chairman Senator Richard Gordon said.
Commission on Elections Commissioner Rowena Guanzon said having such list publicized may promote negative campaigning. (SunStar Philippines)