PDEA chief Aaron Aquino (File photo by NOY MORCOSO / INQUIRER.net)
It is up to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) if it would publicize the names of village officials tagged of having links with illegal drugs, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) clarified on Saturday.
DILG spokesman Jonathan Malaya issued the statement after the PDEA urged the public not to reelect village officials tagged in the illegal drug trade when the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections commenced on May 14.
The PDEA on Saturday disclosed that there were 289 barangay officials, composed of 143 chairmen and 146 kagawads, included in the narco-list of President Rodrigo Duterte.
“We wish to clarify that the “narco list” is not prepared and maintained by DILG. It is prepared and maintained by PDEA. What the DILG and its attached agencies do is to provide information on drug personalities and activities to PDEA for verification and inclusion in the narco list,” Malaya said in a statement.
READ: PDEA to voters: Don’t reelect narco-politicians in barangay polls
Malaya explained that PDEA, pursuant to RA 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, is the lead agency in the government’s war on drugs.
The agency also serves as the chair of the Interagency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs created by Duterte under Executive Order No. 15, he noted.
“As lead agency in the fight against illegal drugs, PDEA prepares and finalizes the list and acts on it accordingly,” Malaya said.
However, the DILG spokesman said that they see the upcoming barangay elections as “an opportunity to remove officials with ties to illegal drugs.”
“This is the reason why we are urging the public to vote for candidates who are actively fighting the war against drugs in the barangay level,” Malaya said.
“In the meantime, should there be evidence against incumbent barangay officials, DILG OIC-Secretary Eduardo M. Año has directed the PNP to do case build up so that the necessary cases can be filed against them without delay,” he said. /jpv