DOJ assures ‘narco list’ pols of fair probe

MANILA, Philippines — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra yesterday assured the 46 officials in the supposed narco list revealed by President Duterte that their investigation would be fair.

“In compliance with the requirements of due process, we shall likewise give these persons named in the narco list ample opportunity to disprove the allegations against them,” Guevarra said.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) and its attached agency, the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), would be determining if any of the 46 could be charged criminally for illegal drugs.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), for its part, has tapped the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to further get evidence on these alleged narco politicians. 

“These officials will not engage in actual drug transactions unlike our usual drug personalities, so we have sought the help of AMLC and PACC to conduct money laundering investigations on ill-gotten or unexplained wealth and lifestyle checks,” PDEA spokesman Derrick Carreon said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has 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 46 officials.

Carreon said they are continuing the case build-up against the 46, saying the quantum of evidence in administrative cases compared to a criminal case is different.

There are at least 50 more that were not included in the list of narco-politicians believed to be involved in the illegal drug trade.

The President did not mention the 50 personalities of the total of 96 politicians involved in the list.

Duterte did not read their names during the joint National and Regional Peace and Order Council meeting held in Davao City late Thursday.

“For the time being, this (46 officials) will do because they were validated. As to the others, their names should be validated first,” Duterte told the NPOC meeting.

The validation of those involved in the narco list reportedly started as early as 2017.

“Their involvement is varied – there are protectors, coddlers, the others are really deeply involved,” he said.

Duterte on Thursday made public the names of 46 politicians who are suspected to be involved in the illegal drug trade.

The list consisted of 35 mayors, seven vice mayors, three congressmen and one provincial board member.

The following day, some of the concerned officials issued statements, all denying the allegations that they are involved in the illegal drug trade.

They gave various reasons why they should not be included in the list.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President is doing his constitutional duty to protect the Filipino nation when he released the narco list.

“Individual rights are subordinate to the state’s right to protect itself from its enemies that seek to destroy it,” Panelo said.

“(The) people’s right to safety prevails over the individual rights of persons piercing and destroying the security net that protects the citizenry,” he said.

Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin said Duterte could be impeached for releasing the narco list.

Panelo said the failure of the President to disclose the list would make him liable for impeachment.

“Such omission is culpable violation of the Constitution and a betrayal of the public trust,” Panelo said.

Panelo said Villarin’s argument has no legal and factual basis. “In other words, it’s pure nonsense,” he said.

Panelo pointed out charges have been filed against the erring officials when the President disclosed the list.

Panelo compared the release of the narco list to the police procedure of announcing the names of criminal suspects.  

“Such act cannot be considered a legal transgression, and even more so, an impeachable offense,” he said.

Panelo said the President’s action is justified, saying the drug menace has evolved into a national security problem as it threatens to destroy the very foundation of society. 

Sen. Aquilino Pimentel III said the public disclosure of the list is not an impeachable offense.

“Impeachment is a political process. Maybe Villarin should convince his colleagues in the House of Representatives, including the senators, about his theory,” he said.

Pimentel said the disclosure of the list of narco politicians had been overdue.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said further validation is needed for the 50 other politicians who were not mentioned.

Año said some of the politicians in the list have been dismissed.

“Others are still under suspension but we have included them in the list because there is no finality yet from the courts and the Office of the Ombudsman on their cases so they can still run,” he added.

Año clarified all 46 politicians initially named by the President are incumbent officials, with four of them not seeking reelection.

Of the 46 in the narco list, 10 of them were reportedly allies of the President in the ruling PDP-Laban party.

Pimentel, PDP-Laban president, warned members included in the narco list will be expelled from the party if they fail to explain why their drug link has no basis.

“We will give them the due process and allow them to explain their side. The allegations against them are serious enough to merit expulsion from the party. They have no place here,” Pimentel said.

Duterte had stressed the names of the 46 politicians have been validated and vetted by government agencies.

He revealed there are more names, but these still need further validation.

Duterte said he is not interested on whether he reveals the names before or after the May elections. – Edith Regalado, Christina Mendez, Romina Cabrera, Roel Pareño, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Jun Elias