Sara Duterte-Carpio: Fate of 46 ‘narco politicians’ up to voters

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Voters will decide the fate of politicians who are included in the narco list that President Duterte released Thursday night, Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said over the weekend.

While a photo of Duterte-Carpio raising the hand of one of the 46 politicians is allegedly circulating on social media, she maintained that politicians who would publicly request her to raise their hands will not be turned down.

Duterte-Carpio added that candidates under her Hugpong ng Pagbabago party who will figure in narco list will be given the chance to answer the allegations.

According to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), 50 other names are undergoing validation. 

As this developed, the Philippine National Police (PNP) yesterday urged the politicians included in the narco list to cooperate in the probe that will be conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman on the administrative charges filed against them by the government.

Instead of reacting negatively, PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Bernard Banac said the politicians accused of involvement in illegal drugs should take the opportunity to clear their names.

In an interview over dwIZ, Banac expressed confidence that the ombudsman will provide all the politicians a chance to explain their side and dispute the allegations against them.

Banac also defended the list, saying it underwent meticulous validation by the PNP, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Armed Forces of the Philippines and National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

‘Not illegal’

There is no violation of the constitutional rights to due process and presumption of innocence of the officials in the narco list, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra said yesterday.

He explained that the officials tagged in the narco list would be given opportunities to debunk the allegations against them in administrative and criminal proceedings.

Guevarra also said the fact-finding probe of the National Bureau of Investigation has yet to start.

“The Department of Justice (DOJ) is awaiting copies of the complaints so far lodged with the ombudsman and Anti-Money Laundering Council and/or copies of the intel reports of the PDEA and PNP before we commence a more thorough investigation of the criminal aspect,” he added.

“Should these charges go to preliminary investigation, we assure all respondents of a fair and impartial hearing,” Guevarra said.

The DOJ chief maintained that the President cannot be held accountable for releasing the narco list to the public, saying Duterte did not prejudge the allegations against the officials.

“The publication of their names was made by the President in recognition of the right of the people to be informed of matters pertaining to national interest and public safety, without necessarily prejudging the guilt of the persons cited in the list,” Guevarra added.

The DILG had filed administrative charges of grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, conduct unbecoming of a public officer and gross neglect of duty against the officials before the ombudsman prior to the President’s announcement.

Delisted

Meanwhile, three municipal mayors in La Union are not in the President’s new narco list.

Mayor Reynaldo Flores of Naguilian, twice mentioned by Duterte in his 2016 speeches as a narco politician and high value target, did not find his name on the list.

“I learned that the Regional Peace and Order Council of Region 1 had recommended to President Duterte the removal of our names because the council cleared us of any involvement in illegal drug activities,” Flores said.

Also not in the list are Mayor Eulogio Clarence Martin de Guzman III of Bauang and Mayor Dante Garcia of Tubao.

De Guzman was earlier cleared by former PNP chief Ronald dela Rosa during a visit to Bauang recently. – With Edu Punay, Emmanuel Tupas, Jun Elias