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Monday, December 2, 2024

Rody names 46 ‘narco-pols’

President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday released the government’s list of politicians suspected of involvement in the illegal trade of drugs ahead of the May elections.

In a speech during the National Peace and Order Council meeting in Davao, the President mentioned the names of 43 local officials and three other congressmen allegedly involved in the proliferation of illegal drugs.

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According to the President, the Department of the Interior and Local Government has already filed administrative cases against the 46 narco-politicians in the Ombudsman.

The names, the Chief Executive said, have been “vetted and validated.”

“For the time being, this will be first because it’s already validated. The others, I just want to ‘double sure.’ I am not really interested in releasing before or after the elections because I don’t have the slightest intention to hurt anybody or to be a cause of the failure of an election or a certain man who wants to serve the public,” Duterte said.

“I don’t have anything. So, we won’t release the others because those are not sure yet. Those that have been filed are already validated, then we can say that we have gathered enough proof,” he added.

The Palace previously justified the declassification of the so-called “narco-list,” saying it is the public’s right to know the politicians allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade, as it viewed the country’s problem with illegal narcotics as a matter of national security.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Thursday vowed to go after a “big celebrity” who is allegedly a regular buyer of party drugs from a suspected supplier, Steve Pasion, who was killed in an anti-narcotics operation.

“A celebrity is buying the drugs [from him]. The last was about 200 pieces of ecstasy,” PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said.

During the recent operation, anti-drug agents linked the unnamed showbiz celebrity to Pasion based on the exchanges of their text messages.

Aquino said the celebrity asked Pasion about the availability of ecstasy.

“We saw pictures of this celebrity in Pasion’s cellphone,” he said, but declined to name the person.

“So far, the celebrity’s name has surfaced three times already among the big-time drug traders we have arrested,” he added. “This is something big.”

Pasion was a suspected large-scale dealer of party drugs in Metro Manila for celebrities.

Levi Ortiz, PDEA’s Special Enforcement Service director, said authorities were about to arrest Pasion when he allegedly grabbed the handgun of one of the anti-narcotics agents.

Pasion’s girlfriend, part-time model Irene Mercado, was also arrested during the buy-bust.

PDEA said it has sequestered 15 tablets of suspected ecstasy amounting to P30,000, sachets of suspected cocaine, P300,000 worth of suspected shabu, a kilogram of shabu worth P6 million, and three bottles of liquid ecstasy worth P75,000.

The slain drug deal was reportedly known as the supplier of ecstasy to models and television personalities.

In a speech during a campaign rally in Isabela province, President Rodrigo Duterte vowed to give PDEA operatives a P1.5-million reward for killing the suspected big-time ecstasy supplier.

At the same time, Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde reminded police engaged in anti-drug operations to strictly adhere to existing policies and guidelines.

In a memorandum released this week, Albayalde reminded directors of all police regional offices to ensure that selection and vetting procedures are properly observed in the activation and organization of drug enforcement units in all levels with a quarterly evaluation to assure credibility.

READ: Senators, Comelec: Release of narco list premature, unfair

READ: ‘Pros outweigh cons on narcos’

READ: Palace: No narco bets wiretapped

READ: ‘Narco-list out soon: Voters need to know’

ON THE NARCO-LIST 

Mayor Ferdinand Dance Aguinaldo of Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte

Cong. Jesus Celeste of Pangasinan

Mayor Marjorie Salazar of Lasam, Cagayan

Mayor Cipriano Violago Jr. of San Rafael Bulacan

Mayor Erlon Agustin of Camiling Tarlac

Mayor Jefferson Khonghun of Subic Zambales

Cong. Jeffrey Khonghun of Zambales

Mayor Bruno Ramos of Bay, Laguna

Mayor Caesar Perez of Los Banos, Laguna

Mayor Cecilio Hernandez of Rodriguez, Rizal

Vice Mayor Dennis Hernandez of Rodriguez, Rizal

Mayor Eulalio Mendoza of Lemery, Batangas

Mayor Juan Toreja of Ibaan, Batangas

Mayor Loreto Amante of San Pablo City, Laguna

Mayor Raul Paulino of Teresa, Rizal

Mayor Roderick Alcala of Lucena City, Quezon

Board Member Rommel Ayuson of Rizal Province

Mayor Nieves Rosente of El Nido, Palawan

Vice Mayor Ariel Alagos Jr. of Culasi, Antique

Mayor Jed Escalante Mabilog of Iloilo City

Mayor Julius Ronald Pacificador of Hamtic, Antique

Mayor Mariano Malones Sr. of Maasin, Iloilo

Siegfredo Betita of Carles, Iloilo

Vice Mayor Franz Sabalones of San Fernando, Cebu

Mayor Vicente Loot of Daang Bantayan, Cebu

Cong. Vicente Sofronio Veloso of Leyte

Mayor Gamar Janihim of Sirawai, Zamboanga del Norte

Mayor Leonida Angcap of Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur

Mayor Crisinciano Mahilac of Sinacaban, Misamis Oriental

Mayor David Navarro of Clarin, Misamis Occidental

Mayor Ezel Villanueva of Calamba, Misamis Occidental

Mayor Jason Almonte of Oroquieta City

Mayor Abubakar Maulana of Palimbang, Sultan Kudarat

Mayor Albert Palencia of Banga, South Cotabato

Mayor Pablo Matinong Jr of Sto. Nino, South Cotabato

Mayor Roberto Luna Jr of Lingig, Surigao del Sur

Vice Mayor Abdulwahad Sabal of Talitay, Maguindanao

Vice Mayor Anida Dimaukom of Datu Saudi Ampatuan, Maguindanao

Vice Mayor Arafat Salic of Marawi City

Vice Mayor Jamal Pangandamun of Maguing, Lanao del Sur

Mayor Mamaulan Mulok of Maguing, Lanao del Sur

Former Mayor Montasser Meling Sabal of Talitay, Maguindanao

Vice Mayor Ohto Montawal of Datu Montawal

Mayor Rasul Mabang Sangki of Ampatuan, Maguindanao

Mayor Vicman Kambang Montawal of Datu Montawal, Maguindanao

Mayor Abdulla Mansul of Muhtamad, Basilan

Nathaniel Mariano

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