President Duterte has approved the release of the narco-list ahead of the May elections during his conversation with Interior and Local Government Eduardo Año after the Cabinet meeting last Monday, according to Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo.
“From what I gather from Secretary Año, next week ang parang nasabi niya and we’ll be filing administrative charges as well as criminal charges against those in the list,” Panelo said during a Palace press briefing.
“While we appreciate and understand the well-meaning individuals saying that the release of the narco-list may violate the presumption of innocence, we’d like to tell them that the Constitution gives the people the right to know matters of public concerns,” he said.
He said the public and the voters have the right to know “who these destroyers of society are who have placed all of us to the brink.” “They cannot – and must not – be given the authority to rule and govern for they will only hasten the destruction of our country,” he added.
With the drug problem now a matter of national security, Panelo also explained that the government was duty bound to take the necessary measures to ensure public safety.
“If those involved in the unlawful drug trade will be running the local governments then public safety is endangered and the Republic necessarily is placed on the precipice of destruction,” he said.
He said the list of suspected drug personalities was made after the law enforcement agencies’ “painstaking investigation and surveillance using modern technology and sourcing credible information from those who have been previously arrested and prosecuted as well as the thousands who voluntarily surrendered.”
Panelo said the right to information of the people gives the government the corollary duty of providing them such information, especially when the same affects their lives and welfare. The country, he added, was “now in a state of narco-politics” amid the contamination of thousands of barangays.
Panelo also brushed aside concerns that the release of the narco list could be a violation of due process for the persons concerned. He insisted that the country’s interests prevail over the interests of the individual candidates.
He also said persons running for public office have effectively “waived” their right to the presumption of innocence.
“It’s a fair game for all candidates who are involved in the drug industry. They know what they are doing is something that is destructive of the fabric of society. So when their names are listed there, they take that risk,” he said.
“The voters have the right to live, the voters have the right to be safe, the voters have the right to reject people who have placed this country in danger of being destroyed,” he added.
The DILG chief earlier pushed for the release the list of candidates allegedly involved in illegal drug trade ahead of the May elations supposedly to warn the voters. The list reportedly includes 82 politicians, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
The Palace earlier declared it had no qualms about the release of the narco-list to help guide voters in the polls.
The President released his own narco list of local government executives, barangay officials and policemen early in his term. He, however, apologized to some local officials later on for their inclusion in the list after investigation showed they were supposedly not involved in the narcotics trade.
source: news.mb.com.ph
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