PH gov’t stands behind release of ‘nacro-list’ of politicians allegedly involved in drug trade

Despite criticisms from various groups, the Philippine government is pushing through with its impending release of what has been referred to by the media as the “narco list” — a list of politicians who are allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

President Rodrigo Duterte’s spokesperson Salvador Panelo said today in an interview with radio station DZBB that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) might release the list sometime next week.

He said in Filipino: “We have to look at the drug problem. This is such a big issue that threatens to ruin our society.”

The release of the narco list was the idea of DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, reported the Philippine Star. It allegedly contains 71 names, consisting of mayors, vice mayors, and councilors, some of whom are running for re-election this year.

Año, who was supported by no less than Duterte, said that the list could serve as a guide for the public who will vote in the elections on May 13. He promised that the list will go through a stringent verification process before it would be released to the public, reported the Manila Bulletin. 

But the list has been criticized by many, including the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), because it said it violated the constitutionally-guaranteed right that a suspect is presumed innocent until proven guilty, ABS-CBN News reported. The CHR said that if the government believed it had enough evidence against these politicians, they should file charges against them.

However, Panelo said the government couldn’t file cases against these politicians as they still need documentary and testimonial evidence.

He told ANC show Early Edition today: “Meanwhile, you cannot let the people wait to be informed on who is involved there (drug trade). As far as we are concerned, we will not allow people involved in drugs to govern the respective municipalities and barangay (villages).”

Even the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), The Philippine Daily Inquirer reported, is against the release of the list.  Its chief Director General Aaron Aquino today said he has been against it from the beginning but would have to follow Duterte’s directive.

A Commission on Elections (COMELEC) official, Rowena Guanzon, called the list “unfair” for the politicians involved and said it was an example of negative campaigning. The COMELEC has maintained that they will not disqualify a candidate if they were found to be on the narco list unless they were convicted of the crime.