CEBU, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) will not release the names of incumbent barangay officials who are included on the drug watchlist as they need to further validate the information that they received.
PDEA-7 spokesperson Leia Albiar said that there are 536 incumbent officials in their drug watch list nationwide but half of the number needs further validation.
She added releasing the names would be premature and they are also avoiding that their office is just used by politicians who want to malign the reputation of their rivals.
Albiar said aside from monitoring, a name can be included on the drug watchlist through anonymous tips.
“We could not disclose the list, because premature pa siya, sa law enforcement atong goal is prosecution. If mu disclose ta, ang posibilidad mulay-low, and basin pud nadala lang sa sulti-sulti and basin gidaot lang,” Albiar said.
Albiar said that the only person who can name those included on the list is President Rodrigo Duterte.
She added that if the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) of an incumbent official is not active, it could be an indication that he might be involved in illegal activities.
“Mahimong gauge if mismong BADAC wala ma activate gani. Dapat activated and functioning. Dili siya functioning if wala’y meeting and wala’y programs,” she said.
The public should also avoid voting for candidates who are not from well to do families but buy votes during elections.
Albiar warned those who are involved will be arrested even in the middle of campaigning if there is enough evidence against them.
For his part, Cebu City Police Office director Senior Superintendent Joel Doria advised barangay officials to visit him in his office to surrender or clear their names.
He said that since there is a list of narcopoliticians, the police are in obligated to monitor and validate the names.
He agrees with PDEA-7’s stand that the names should not be released and the go-signal to name these officials must come from the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame. —MBG (FREEMAN)