MANILA, Philippines — Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Wednesday urged the 356 police officers included in the illegal drug watchlist of President Rodrigo Duterte to prove their innocence.
“Patunayan nilang wala silang kaugnayan sa iligal na droga. Nasa kanila ang burden of proof, iprisinta nila ang mga ebidensya na magpapatunay na wala silang kinalaman at kaugnayan sa iligal na droga,” he said in a statement.
(They should prove that they are not involved in the drug trade. The burden of proof is on them. They should present evidence that they don’t have links to illegal drugs.)
Año said the police officers included in the watchlist must present evidence from the Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, National Intelligence Coordinating Agency, and the Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines that will clear their names.
Until all these agencies agree that they are not involved in drugs, investigation on their alleged drug links will continue, said Año.
He also said that those in the narco-list will have to go to the agencies that reported them and present evidence refuting their accusers.
All 356 officers were relieved from their posts pending a one-month adjudication process. This period covers a one-week adjudication at the regional and directorial level of PNP units before the cases will be forwarded to the national level which will handle the cases for three weeks.