PDEA chief says he won't order release of 'narco-list'
Published Nov 13, 2018 12:53 pm
By Alexandria Denise San Juan
Amid urges to publicly divulge the list of 'narco-politicians' for the upcoming 2019 polls, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency chief said if things would go on his way, he will rather not release the names of officials involved in illegal drugs but instead "silently" file charges against them.
PDEA Director-General Aaron Aquino
(Kevin Tristan Espiritu / MANILA BULLETIN) "Personally ako, ayaw ko. Sana wala nang magbigay sa akin ng utos na ilabas kasi (Personally, I do not want. I hope no one will command me to release it because) I want to work silently. I just want to file charges against these narco-politicians," PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said in an interview. Aquino shared that they are currently in an "adjudication process" wherein some of the alleged narco-politicians included in the list will be crossed out. According to Aquino, out of the 93 local officials in their narco-list, it is now down to 83 as four were already arrested, another four were homicide under investigation, and two died naturally. "It is now down to 83. And out of that 83, we are proposing to delist five mayors and one vice mayor," he shared. Aquino made the statement following the renewed calls of the Department of Interior and Local Government and some senators to release the 'narco-list' and disqualify officials involved in illegal drugs to run for a public post. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año earlier said he wants the anti-illegal drug agency to release another list of local officials with alleged drug links. Año also proposed to bar these narco-politicians from running in the midterm elections next year. Sen. Francis Escudero has echoed the call of the DILG and also challenged PDEA to bare the list for the people to know who should they vote for. However, for the PDEA chief, broadcasting the narco-politicians will just lead to further chaos which is expected every election. "Well, may experience ako ng barangay elections eh. Maraming nagsasabi na it will become a death list kapag ipinalabas ko 'yan. Another one is that lalo lang magkakagulo," he explained. Prior to the May 14 elections, PDEA also released a controversial list of names of barangay officials allegedly linked in illegal drugs, supposedly to help voters pick the right bets. But for now, Aquino said the voters should already know the local officials involved in drugs and hopes that they would not vote for them. "Kung ikaw ay nakatira sa isang munisipyo, alam na alam mo kung 'yung mayor mo ay involved sa drugs... Bakit ninyo pa iboboto kung ang mayor ninyo ay isang kriminal, isang corrupt, tapos involved sa illegal drugs?" he said. PDEA is now waiting for a green light from President Rodrigo Duterte if they would release another drug list like the narco-list they issued before the barangay elections in May.
PDEA Director-General Aaron Aquino(Kevin Tristan Espiritu / MANILA BULLETIN) "Personally ako, ayaw ko. Sana wala nang magbigay sa akin ng utos na ilabas kasi (Personally, I do not want. I hope no one will command me to release it because) I want to work silently. I just want to file charges against these narco-politicians," PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said in an interview. Aquino shared that they are currently in an "adjudication process" wherein some of the alleged narco-politicians included in the list will be crossed out. According to Aquino, out of the 93 local officials in their narco-list, it is now down to 83 as four were already arrested, another four were homicide under investigation, and two died naturally. "It is now down to 83. And out of that 83, we are proposing to delist five mayors and one vice mayor," he shared. Aquino made the statement following the renewed calls of the Department of Interior and Local Government and some senators to release the 'narco-list' and disqualify officials involved in illegal drugs to run for a public post. DILG Secretary Eduardo Año earlier said he wants the anti-illegal drug agency to release another list of local officials with alleged drug links. Año also proposed to bar these narco-politicians from running in the midterm elections next year. Sen. Francis Escudero has echoed the call of the DILG and also challenged PDEA to bare the list for the people to know who should they vote for. However, for the PDEA chief, broadcasting the narco-politicians will just lead to further chaos which is expected every election. "Well, may experience ako ng barangay elections eh. Maraming nagsasabi na it will become a death list kapag ipinalabas ko 'yan. Another one is that lalo lang magkakagulo," he explained. Prior to the May 14 elections, PDEA also released a controversial list of names of barangay officials allegedly linked in illegal drugs, supposedly to help voters pick the right bets. But for now, Aquino said the voters should already know the local officials involved in drugs and hopes that they would not vote for them. "Kung ikaw ay nakatira sa isang munisipyo, alam na alam mo kung 'yung mayor mo ay involved sa drugs... Bakit ninyo pa iboboto kung ang mayor ninyo ay isang kriminal, isang corrupt, tapos involved sa illegal drugs?" he said. PDEA is now waiting for a green light from President Rodrigo Duterte if they would release another drug list like the narco-list they issued before the barangay elections in May.