Sotto: Names of celebrities tagged in drug trade should also be exposed

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III. INQUIRER.NET PHOTO/CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — Senate President Vicente Sotto III on Friday said authorities should also name celebrities involved in illegal drugs.

Sotto made this remark after President Rodrigo Duterte exposed the names of politicians allegedly involved in illegal drug trade.

READ: Duterte exposes 46 ‘narco politicians’

“Might as well name the celebrities patronizing these drug pushers,” Sotto told reporters in a text message.

“At least ‘yun pag galing sa pusher ang info, validated,” he added. 

Sotto said celebrities involved in illegal drugs should be sent to rehabilitation centers.

“Kung ako boss nila, rehab(ilitation) dapat,” he said.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) earlier said it is investigating two “high-profile celebrities” who are allegedly linked to a slain big-time party drug dealer. 

READ: PDEA looking at 2 celebs linked to top party drug dealer

PDEA Special Enforcement Services (SES) Acting Director Levi Ortiz said the names of two celebrities — whom they have been monitoring — popped up while they were inspecting the phone of alleged big-time party drug supplier Steven Pasion. 

Pasion was killed in a buy-bust operation in Manila on Monday night.

READ: Drug supplier to celebrities, models killed in buy-bust

But PDEA refused to name the two celebrities, saying they are still under investigation. The agency also said it is likewise possible that the names of these celebrities were only used as aliases by the drug dealer’s clients. /kga