Surrender, Palace urges execs linked by Duterte to drug trade

By: Aries Joseph Hegina - 8 years ago

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

A Malacañang official on Sunday urged retired and incumbent officials whom President Rodrigo Duterte have linked to illegal drugs to surrender so that they can clear their names.

“The President is encouraging all of the persons of interest, ‘yung mga alleged drug lords and drug coddlers na ‘to come up — to come out in the open to surrender themselves and submit themselves to thorough investigation if they want to clear their names,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a dzRB interview.

Andanar said that the officials named by Duterte will face charges after they undergo investigation.

The Palace official said that the exposé made by the President early Sunday morning only shows the government’s sincerity in its campaign against illegal drugs.

“Ito po ay nagpapakita lamang ng sinseridad mula sa ating Pangulo na wala pong excused dito, wala pong sacred cows sa paghahanap, pagsusugpo at pag-aanunsyo, page-exposé nitong mga pangalan ng mga matataas na miyembro ng ating gobyerno dito sa salot na droga na ito,” he said.

Duterte named more than 150 personalities who are allegedly connected to the illegal drug trade. The officials were from the three branches of government: executive, legislative and judiciary./rga