President Rodrigo Duterte likened the government’s drug list to an “obligation” to the public, stressing that Filipinos are entitled to know the acts of their officials.
“As a matter of an obligation, I have to come up with the names of those suspected so that the public will be aware and prevent their ascension to public office,” the president said during the IATF meeting.
The “drug list” includes hundreds of barangay captains and some mayors, which he read to the public in 2019.
Duterte further clarified that the narco list came from intelligence reports from drug enforcement authorities, police, and military, and not him.
“It’s not mine, it was only given to me. I’m not the one who makes the list. I’m not the police. I’m not part of the intelligence.”
Duterte apologized to the family of slain Los Baños, Laguna Mayor Caesar Perez, whose son Aldous insisted his father had no involvement in the illegal drugs trade. The mayor, who was shot dead last Dec. 3 inside the municipal hall, was part of the list read by the President in 2019.
