MANILA, Philippines — Senatorial bets Ramon “Bong” Revilla and Jinggoy Estrada are in favor of the release of the so-called “narco list” or the list of politicians involved in the illegal drug trade.
“Dapat. Para mareveal lahat yung mga pangalan nila. Ako pabor ako,” Revilla told reporters when asked for his stand during an ambush interview in an endorsement rally in San Juan city on Monday.
But Revilla said the list should be verified before it comes out because it would be unfair to those who may be falsely accused.
“Siguro naman bago nila irelease yan ay pagaralan mabuti at siguradong involved sila dyan. Dahil unfair din naman for them kung halimbawang hindi nga sila totoong involved dyan,” Revilla said.
Estrada, likewise, wants disclosure of the “narco list” the same way as the previous administration did on the issue of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF).
“Well, palagay ko if they want to shame the politicians involved in drugs. Kasi talagang hub na tayo ng drug trade sa buong mundo,” he said.
“Nung araw ganun din ang ginawa nila sa amin. Bakit noong araw pwede, ngayon hindi? Dati, they shamed us. Wala pa namang kasong pinapatong laban sa amin,” he lamented.
When a reporter asked if he was pertaining to the PDAF issue, Estrada answered, “Yes.”
“Kung pupuwede nung araw, nung mga nakaraang administrasyon, dapat pupwede rin ngayon,” Estrada added.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya earlier said that the agency was just waiting for President Rodrigo Duterte’s “go signal” to release the “narco list.”
Both Revilla and Estrada were indicted by the Ombudsman for plunder and multiple counts of graft in connection with the multi-billion pesos PDAF or “pork barrel scam.”
Revilla was acquitted of plunder by the Sandiganbayan last December 2018, while Estrada has been out on bail since September 2017.
READ: Bong Revilla acquitted of plunder | Jinggoy Estrada camp posts bail
Both are running under the administration-backed Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP) slate. /je