Duterte exposes 46 ‘narco politicians’

MANILA, Philippines – President Rodrigo Duterte announced on Thursday night in Davao City the names of 46 politicians on the government’s “narcolist,” or elected officials involved in the illegal drugs trade.

The President stressed that several government agencies have vetted and validated the list, prompting him to “unmask these drug personalities.”

Also on Thursday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)  filed before the Office of the Ombudsman administrative cases against the 46 officials.

READ: DILG files administrative cases vs 46 politicians on ‘narcolist’

The politicians identified by the President were:

Ferdinand Dancel Aguindaldo, Vice Mayor, Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte (Running for Mayor)

Jesus Celeste, 1st District Representative, Pangasinan (Did not file)

Marjorie Salazar, Mayor Lasam, Cagayan ((Running for Municipal Councilor)

Cipriano Dungao Violago Jr., Mayor, San Rafael, Bulacan (Running for Mayor)

Erlon Agustin, Mayor, Camiling, Tarlac (Running for Mayor)

Jefferson Khonghun, Mayor Subic, Zambales (Running for Vice Governor of Zambales)

Jeffrey Khonghun,  1st district Representative, Zambales (Running for Congressman)

Bruno Tolentino Ramos, Mayor, Bay, Laguna (Did not file)

Caesar Pabalete Perez, Mayor, Los Baños, Laguna (Running for Mayor)

Cecilio C. Hernandez, Mayor, Rodriguez, Rizal (Running for Vice Mayor)

Dennis Linco Hernandez, Rodriguez, Rizal (Running for Mayor)

Eulalio Mendoza Alilio, Mayor, Lemery, Batangas (Running for Mayor)

Juan Valencia Toreja, Mayor, Ibaan, Batangas (Did not file)

Loreto Sahagun Amante, Mayor, San Pablo City, Laguna (Running for Mayor)

Raul S. Palino, Mayor, Teresa, Rizal (Running for Mayor)

Roderick Alcantara Alcala, Mayor, Lucena City, Quezon (Running for Mayor)

Rommel Cruz Ayuson, Board Member, Rizal Province (Running for Board Member)

Nieves Cabunalda Rosente, Mayor, El Nido, Palawan (Running for Mayor)

Ariel Tabugo Alagos Jr., Vice Mayor, Culasi, Antique (Running for Mayor)

Jed Patrick Mabilog, Mayor Iloilo City (Did not file, cannot be located)

Julius Ronald Pacificador, Mayor, Hamtic, Antique ((Running for Vice Mayor)

Mariano Malficio Malones Sr., Mayor Maasin, Iloilo ((Running for Vice Mayor)

Siegfredo Afluente Betita, Carles, Iloilo (Running for Mayor)

Franz Cabilao Sabalones, Vice Mayor, San Fernando Cebu (Did not file)

Vicente Loot, Mayor, Daanbantayan, Cebu (Did not file)

Vicente Sofronio Veloso, 3rd District Representative,  Leyte (Running for Congressman)

Gamar Ahay Janihim, Mayor, Zamboanga del Norte, (Running for Mayor)

Leonida Albor Angcap, Mayor, Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur (Running for Mayor)

Crisinciano Enot Mahilac, Mayor, Miamis Occidental (Did not file)

David Mabal Navarro, Mayor, Clarin Miamis Occidental (Running for Mayor)

Ezel Tabuelog Villanueva, Mayor, Calamba, Misamis Occidental (Running for Mayor)

Jason Paredes Almonte, mayor, Oroquieta City (Running for Congressman)

Abubakar Pendatun Maulana, Mayor, Palimbang, Sulatan Kudarat (Running for Vice Mayor)

Albert Palencia, Mayor, Banga, South Cotabato (Running for Mayor)

Pablo Mondejar Matinong Jr, Mayor, Sto. Niño, South Cotabato (Running for Mayor)

Roberto Luna, Mayor, Linging, Surigao del Sur (Running for Mayor)

Abdulwahab Sabal, Vice Mayor, Talitay, Maguindanao (Running for Mayor)

Anida Dimaukom, Vice Mayor, Datu Saudi Amptuan, Maguindanao (Running for Mayor)

Arafat Alim Salic, Vice Mayor, Marawi City

Jamal Abinal Pangandamun, Vice Mayor, Maguing, Lanao del Sur (Running for Vice Mayor)

Mamaulan Abinal Mulok, Mayor, Maguing, Lanao del Sur (Running for Mayor)

Montasser Meling Sabal, Former mayor, Taglitay, Maguindanao (Running for Vice mayor)

Ohto Caumbo Montawal,Vice Mayor, Datu Montawal (Running for Vice mayor)

Rasul Mabang Sangki, Mayor, Ampatuan, Maguindanao (Running for Mayor)

Vicman Kambang Montawal, Mayor, Datu Montawal, Maguindanao (Running for Vice mayor)

Mayor Jamal Abdullah Mansul of Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan

INQUIRER.net is contacting these officials to get their side.

Veloso reacts

So far, only Representative Veloso responded. He vehemently denied his alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade in a telephone interview with INQUIRER.net.

“Kalokohan ‘yan, pulitika ‘yan… Every time na may elections kami rito ang tunay na mga drug lords dito… inilalabas, nili-link ako,” the second-termer congressman said, adding that he would file a House resolution to investigate the matter.

(That’s ridiculous, that’s politics … Every time there is an election, we are the drug lords here, I am linked [to the drug trade].)

READ: Veloso slams narcolist

Duterte, who read the names during the joint command conference of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), said he still had other names which he could not yet disclose because they were not yet validated.

I’m not really interested in releasing it before or after the election because I don’t have any intention of hurting anybody, so the other (narcolist), huwag muna, dahil di ako sigurado,” he said.

Mabilog, Loot get special mention

Mabilog, who had earlier been dismissed from service and who went on exile in the United States because of threats to his life, and Loot got special mention from the President.

When Mabilog’s name came up the President reminded the US Embassy that he had given them the name of the mayor who was not supposed to be allowed entry in the US.

“I’d like to inform the US Embassy, because I thought I gave you the list (and his name was there), kung bakit nakalusot ang mayor na ito (why was this mayor allowed to enter) , I’d like to ask the embassy, (I gave you the list) so that Filipino addicts who’d go there to destroy your country will be denied visa, now I’m asking bakit nandiyan sa (why he is in) America, if not in Canada?” Duterte asked, referring to Mabilog, who reportedly took refuge in the US because of threats to his life.

He also made fun of Daanbantayan Mayor Vicente Loot, a retired general.

“But I think he did not file (his candidacy), there are four incumbents here. Loot, he had been ambushed two times. Sino ang nag ambush kay (Who ambushed) Loot? Kindly raise your right hand,” the President asked, before berating Loot for being a scholar of the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) who ended up in the narcolist.

‘Vetted and validated’

“My decision to unmask these drug personalities was anchored on my trust in the government agencies who have vetted and validated the narco-list,” Duterte said.

He said the Anti-Money Laundering Council and the Presidential [Anti]-Corruption Commission have conducted their respective investigations and “the results of which will aid us in filing airtight cases against them.”

“Remember that ‘public office is a public trust;’ an official’s right to privacy is not absolute and there is a compelling reason to prioritize the interest of the state and the people,” he said.

“As your President, my ultimate concern is the pursuit of order in government and the welfare of the Filipino people. My administration assures you of our dedication to change the lives of Filipinos now, not tomorrow,” he said.  With a report from Inquirer Mindanao/gsg