Winning barangay execs on drug list still subject to ‘tokhang’ – Albayalde

PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde during the press briefing on post-Barangay and SK elections. Photo by Noy Morcoso/INQUIRER.net

Candidates who won in the recently-concluded barangay (village) elections and included on the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) list of village executives allegedly involved in illegal drugs may still be subject to Oplan Tokhang, Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde said on Tuesday.

Albayalde said their win in the election would not prevent the police from conducting police operations against them if they really are involved in illegal drugs.

“Hindi excuse ‘yung pagkaboto kung talagang sila ay involved then they will be subjected to operations,” Albayalde said in a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

(Their win in the elections is not an excuse, they can still be subject to police operations.)

On April 30, PDEA made public the list of 207 barangay officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs – 90 of which wre barangay chairmen and 117 kagawads (councilors).

The agency pushed through with the publication of the list despite criticisms from human rights groups that doing so is a violation of due process.

PDEA chief Dir. Gen. Aaron Aquino said that no less than President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the release of the list, which was validated by the PDEA, PNP, Intelligence Service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency.

The agency, however, was unable to identify how many were re-electionists in the village elections.            /kga