Sen. Richard Gordon. (File photo by CATHY MIRANDA / INQUIRER.net)
MANILA, Philippines— After President Rodrigo Duterte bared the names of several officials in the government’s “narcolist,” Senator Richard Gordon described this as unfair saying authorities should have filed charges against those politicians involved in the illegal drug trade.
“Ayoko yun, maliwanag ako na mag-release kayo ng pangalan kasi unfair yan. Kung malakas loob nila mag-release ng pangalan, [dapat] siguradong may kaso sila, [dapat] kasuhan na,” Gordon said over local radio station DWIZ on Saturday.
(I don’t want that, I was clear on this that releasing those names is unfair. If they are confident in releasing these names, they should be certain on filing charges against them. The narco-politicians should already face charges.)
“Ako sa akin, dapat inuna muna filing bago ia-announce [For me, they should file charges first before announcing the names in the narcolist],” he added.
On Thursday, Duterte identified 46 elected officials allegedly involved in illegal drug trade, of which 35 are mayors, seven vice mayors, and a provincial board member.
READ: Duterte exposes 46 ‘narco politicians’
Even before Duterte released the names, Gordon has been rejecting the narcolist as it would deny politicians of their due process.
READ: 2 senators, CHR oppose naming of politicians on narcolist
Meanwhile, Gordon, who is also a lawyer, said politicians named in the list may file a case to defend their rights as a citizen.
Gordon added those who are included in the narcolist must prove that they are innocent while evidence must be shown to validate those who are identified as narco-politicians.
“Kung may kasalanan ka patunayan mo na wala kang kasalanan at dapat kung maglabas ka [ng listahan] tungkulin mo na patunayan na may kasalanan yung tao,” he said.
(If you did something wrong you should prove your innocence and if you released a list, it is your responsibility to prove this to validate that list.) /jpv
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