Senators say bad intelligence report taints Duterte, drug matrix

Senators Sherwin Gatchalian and Panfilo Lacson on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016, said bad intelligence that led to a drug matrix (above) presented by President Rodrigo Duterte (inset) put the Chief Executive and the narco list in bad light. INQUIRER FILES

Senator Sherwin Gatchalian wants the head of the government’s intelligence group to be held liable for putting President Rodrigo Duterte in bad light, following the latter’s admission that there was a mistake in the so-called “narco list.”

“For me, this is a major setback to the credibility of the intelligence group of the government. This will also affect the other elected officials who were previously implicated in the narco list,” Gatchalian said in a text message to reporters on Wednesday.

“The head of intelligence should be liable to this failure of intelligence which put the president in bad light,” he said.

Duterte had apologized to Pangasinan Rep. Amado Espino Jr., Board Member Raul Sison and former provincial administrator Rafael Baraan, whom he accused of protecting the illegal drug trade. The three were included in the drug matrix that the President earlier released to the media.

READ: Duterte matrix out; tags De Lima, ex-Pangasinan gov, others

“Somewhat we were negligent. I am apologizing publicly to them. I am very sorry,” Duterte said on Tuesday.

READ: Duterte apologizes to 3 in drug matrix

Senator Panfilo Lacson also believes that the mistake would have a negative effect on the credibility of the drug matrix.

“Definitely, may negatibong epekto sa credibility ng narco matrix ang ginawang pag amin ng pagkakamali ng Pangulo. This was aggravated by an unavoidable public perception that those who do not have access to him, whether directly or through conduits remain helpless in clearing their names, assuming that they have been unjustly included in the narco list,” Lacson said in a separate text message.

“What is even worse is the suspicion that those killed during police operations may have also been mistakenly suspected as being on the drug list. What easily comes to mind is the case of Peter Lim from Cebu who was easily given access to have an audience with the President mainly because they both stood as wedding sponsors of a common friend’s daughter,” he said.

READ: Duterte, Peter Lim were sponsors at same wedding

Lim was one of the alleged high-profile drug lords named by Duterte as reportedly behind the illegal drugs trade in the Visayas.

Notwithstanding, the two senators had good words for the President for owning up to his mistake.

“This shows the humble character of the President. He knows when to admit his mistake contrary to the common perception of him being hard headed and irrational,” Gatchalian said.

“It shows good leadership on the part of President Duterte, not to mention his merciful side. It takes a real gentleman with humility and a genuine sense of humaneness to publicly admit a mistake,” Lacson said. CBB

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