MANILA, Philippines – Candidates in the 2019 midterm elections can seek a temporary restraining order (TRO) or an injunction against the release of the so called narco-politicians’ list or the list of politicians allegedly involved in the illegal drugs trade, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Tuesday.
Drilon maintained that releasing the list is an “abuse of authority” and “due process.”
He also said it will “adversely affect” the election results for candidates included in the list.
“Any candidate for the May 2019 election can go to court and seek a TRO or an injunction against the release of the alleged narco- list as it is an abuse of authority, lacks due process, and will adversely affect the election results for those who are named in the said narco list,” Drilon said in a statement.
Drilon earlier said that the release of the list could result in complaints of abuse of power and libel.
Likewise, Drilon said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) should file cases against the politicians allegedly involved in the drug trade.
READ: Two senators urge DILG to file cases vs politicians in narco list
Drilon’s statements were issued after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año proposed that the narco list be released within the election period.
READ: Narco-politicians to be identified within election period – DILG chief
President Rodrigo Duterte and Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Director General Oscar Albayalde supported Año’s proposal.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Director General Aaron Aquino, however, is not in favor of the release of the list before the elections. / gsg