Jinggoy decries PDEA publicly naming politicians in narcolist 

Senatorial candidate Jinggoy Estrada. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines—Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada decried on Saturday the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) move of publicly naming politicians included in its narcolist.

President Rodrigo Duterte previously announced some 46 politicians who are allegedly linked with illegal drugs, with the drug agency saying that the list was verified for 14 months.

READ: PDEA: ‘Narcolist’ verified for 14 months; case build-up continues

Meanwhile, PDEA also released a list of 31 celebrities who are on the government’s drug watchlist, but have yet to be publicly identified.

READ: PDEA chief: 20 actors, 11 actresses on drugs watchlist

“It is unfair for us, for politicians to be named kung hindi mo ine-name yung mga ano, (mga artista),” Estrada said.

“Kung ako sa PDEA, itawag nila ‘yun para fair is fair,” the senatorial aspirant added.

Estrada also had this to say to the celebrities tagged in the drug watchlist: “Tigilan niyo na ‘yan”

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino previously said that he was in favor of releasing the names of celebrities on the watchlist, provided that it was validated and the President ordered him to do so. /jpv

READ:  PDEA chief favors releasing verified list of celebrities linked to drugs