Arroyo on House members on ‘narcolist’: There’s due process

MANILA, Philippines — “There’s a due process that they will have to undergo,” House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said Friday, following the inclusion of three incumbent members of the House of Representatives in the so-called list of alleged “narco-politicians” revealed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday night.

READ: Duterte exposes 46 ‘narco politicians’

The Pampanga 2nd District congresswoman also said Leyte 3rd District Rep. Vicente “Ching” Veloso, who was on the list and who immediately denied the accusation, has the right to call for an oversight hearing into the issue.

“One of them asked if he could file a resolution for a hearing in aid of legislation,” Arroyo told reporters in an interview at the sidelines of an inspection with Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) representatives of the cross-border flow being constructed at the corner of West Avenue, Quezon City.

“I said he may have a hearing not in aid of legislation but in exercise of the oversight on the dangerous drugs law. So of course, it is his right to ask for a hearing in Congress as well,” the former president added.

Veloso, an ally of Arroyo and President Rodrigo Duterte, had said he would file a resolution to probe his involvement in the alleged “narcolist.” Veloso said he is gunning for a second term under the National Unity Party.

READ: Leyte lawmaker in narco-list to probe why he is being linked to illegal drugs

READ: Veloso slams inclusion in ‘narcolist,’ says it’s politically motivated

The other House members on the list were outgoing Pangasinan 1st District Rep. Jesus Celeste and re-electionist Zambales 1st District Rep. Jeffrey Khonghun. Both have denied the accusations, and both are members of the President’s Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

READ: Celeste eyes raps vs those who put him in ‘narcolist,’ Khonghun to consult with lawyer

READ: Subic mayor in ‘narcolist’ denies links to illegal drugs

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) had filed administrative charges against the politicians in the list for “grave misconduct, conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, conduct unbecoming of a public officer, and gross neglect of duty” before the President made the live broadcast announcement via the State-run PTV-4 from Davao City on Thursday evening. /ee

READ: DILG files administrative cases vs 46 politicians in ‘narcolist’

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