PNP to provide security to ‘narco-politicians’ if threat to life proven — official

Sr. Supt. Bernard Banac, Philippine National Police spokesperson. Photo by CATHRINE GONZALES / INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine National Police (PNP) is open to providing security to politicians, whose names have been revealed as included in the “narcolist” by President Rodrigo Duterte.

This was the pledge made by PNP spokesperson Sr. Supt. Bernard Banac during a press conference at Camp Crame on Friday. However, the PNP official said they would only provide security to those politicians if they could prove they were facing a serious threat in their lives.

“Binibigyan ng PNP ng assurance doon sa mga official na napangalanan na handa kaming makapagbigay ng seguridad sa kanila kapag napatunayan na napakataas ng threat sa kanilang buhay,” Banac said.

(The PNP gives assurance to officials named in the narcolist that we are ready to provide them with security if proven that they are facing a serious threat to their lives.)

On Thursday night, the President revealed the names of 46 politicians allegedly involved in the drug trade via PTV-4 broadcast from Davao City. The purported narcolist included 35 mayors, seven vice mayors, a provincial board member, and three members of the House of Representatives.

READ: Duterte exposes 46 ‘narco politicians’

According to Banac, the PNP’s duty is to provide security and protection to everyone in the country.

“Hindi lamang ang elected government officials, maging ang ordinaryong mamamayan kung meron talagang validated threat sa kanilang buhay, maging ang lider ng mga simbahan, mga kaparian, miyembro ng media, lahat ng mamamayan, [kung] validated and threat sa kanilang buhay, nakahanda ang PNP na magbigay ng seguridad sa kanila,” he pointed out.

(The PNP is ready to provide security not only to elected government officials but also to ordinary citizens if there is really validated threat in their lives, even to the leaders of the church, priests, members of the media, and all citizens.)

Asked about the timing of the narcolist’s release since it was made in the middle of the campaign period for the midterm polls, Banac said Duterte cared more about the public’s right to information than the politicians’ “right to privacy.”

“Ang sinabi ng Pangulo (The President said that), a government official’s right to privacy is not absolute,” Banac noted.

Banac, however, said the possible cancellation of the politicians’ authority to police in their respective areas would depend on the progress of the administrative cases filed against them before the Office of the Ombudsman by the Department of the Interior and Local Government.