The Philippines’ drug war is now going after celebrities.
At least that’s what Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Director General Aaron Aquino seemed to say today when he urged local television networks to conduct mandatory drug tests for its contract stars. Aquino said this during an interview on the television show The Source, broadcast on CNN Philippines.
He told host Pinky Webb in a mix of English and Filipino: “If we in the PDEA are having an internal cleansing just like in the PNP (Philippine National Police), actors should also have an internal cleansing. For example Channel 2 (ABS-CBN), Channel 7 (GMA), Channel 5 (TV 5), whichever television channel, they have [contract] actors. They should have an initiative where they will conduct drug tests for them. It should be [a] mandatory and surprise drug test.”
In local showbusiness, most actors are bound by exclusive contracts to television networks which prevent them from working with their competitors. In some cases, the television networks also act as their talent managers and get a commission from each project that an actor works on.
Aquino also discussed the PDEA’s narco-list, which includes celebrities who are allegedly involved in illegal drugs. In a prior interview with radio station DZMM, Aquino said that some of the celebrities in their list are alleged drug users, while others are alleged dealers.
Today he said there are 31 celebrity names on their list. He said that if they combine the PDEA list with other agencies, there would be more than 100 names in the roster. Those who are using drugs are allegedly into shabu (meth), ecstasy, marijuana, and cocaine.
“In that 31, 11 are actresses and the 20 are actors. Their age ranges: most of them are in their 20s and 30s,” he said.
However, he said that the list is unverified.
“These are [based] on reports coming from intelligence units. That’s why I’m saying that these are unverified. It means it has to go through the process of validation.”
Aquino has no plans of making the list public. However, he warned: “But we will catch them. We will catch on (sic) you.”
Earlier this week, Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said that should the PDEA want to release the list publicly, the agency has to get the approval of President Rodrigo Duterte, Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.
Duterte released a list of politicians a few weeks ago who are allegedly involved in the drug trade. However, several politicians denied that they were in the drug business, ABS-CBN reported.
