‘Narcopoliticians’ will be put in jail, vows Andanar

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar. ALBERT ALCAIN/Presidential Photo

Malacañang has assured the public that politicians who were on the controversial drug list of President Rodrigo Duterte would be put in jail.

“Nakakasiguro ho tayo na sila ho ay maghihimas rehas at pagbabayaran ho nila ‘yung kanilang mga kasalanan,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in an interview over state-run Radio Pilipinas on Saturday.

(We will make sure that they will be behind bars and they will pay for their wrongdoings.)

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) director general Aaron Aquino said 87 “narcopoliticians,” such as congressmen and mayors, were on the drug list of the President.

In his previous speeches, Duterte has repeatedly said that lawmakers were on his drug list. He had already named Iloilo City mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and Albuera Mayor Rolando Espinosa Sr. who earlier died in a police operation inside his jail.

Asked when the President would reveal the names of the other narcopoliticians, Andanar said the names still need to undergo “vetting process.”

“Kailangan lang talagang idaan sa tamang vetting process lahat ng mga pangalan para makisiguro tayo na talagang involved sila sa ipinagbabawal na droga o hard drugs,” he said.

(We need all the names to go through the right vetting process so that we can make sure whether or not they are involved in illegal or hard drugs.)

“So once na-vet ‘yan, na na-prove ng Presidente ‘yan ay talagang meron silang — meron silang kakaharapin na kamay na bakal pagdating diyan,” he added.

(Once it’s vetted and the President has proven it, then they will really have to face the iron fist.)

Duterte has said that around 6,000 people were on his “narcolist,” which include politicians, policemen, government officials, and judges. /je