THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is validating the alleged involvement of 11 female and 20 male television and movie personalities in the illegal drug trade.
PDEA Director Aaron Aquino said of the 31 celebrities allegedly involved in illegal drugs, three are veterans in the industry, while the rest are in their 20s.
He said the celebrities are more into party drugs, like ecstasy.
Aquino refused to name the celebrities, but said some of them are television hosts or artists whom fans look up to.
“We can’t disclose the list to the public without undergoing some process of validation,” he said.
“Sila pa mismo ang tinutularan ng ating mga kabataan pero kung umorder ng ecstasy, 200 piraso (The youth look up to them, but they order 200 pieces of ecstasy),” he added.
Aquino was referring to two "high-profile" celebrities earlier linked to John Steve Pasion, who was considered one of the biggest party drug suppliers in Metro Manila. PDEA also did not name the celebrities, but said they always appear on TV.
The PDEA said based on its investigation and the exchange of text messages between Pasion and the two celebrities, they order as much as 200 tablets of ecstasy for "personal use."
Pasion was killed in anti-drug operation recently. (SunStar Philippines)