Two lawmakers on Tuesday exhorted Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Director General Aaron Aquino to file a complaint against six or seven lawmakers and other public officials included in the administration’s narco-list.
Reps. Winston Castelo of Quezon City and Tom Villarin of Akbayan said Aquino should refrain from resorting to trial by publicity by making the entire 292-member House of Representatives suspected drug pushers.
They made their statement even as the Bureau of Customs intercepted 11.5 kilograms of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu worth P74.8 million that were concealed on separate parcels at the Port of Clark in Pampanga and arrested four consignees who were suspected to be illegal drug traders.
Arrested were Melchor Robeles Corocoto, Dolores dela Cruz Lintag, William Ibañez Del Piza and Daniel Andrada who received the parcels that were consigned to Arthur Santiago, Marilou Febi Mendez and Mark Fojas who are now wanted by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña said the four were caught receiving the parcels that came from California.
Castelo said “filing a formal complaint against the concerned lawmakers is the most appropriate thing to do instead of just making publicity” even as he cautioned Aquino to exercise caution.
“PDEA should also better bring the matter to a proper legal forum,” Castelo said.
“Everyone has the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty.”
Aquino said 91 people holding government positions were included in the so-called drug list.
He said he would wait for President Duterte’s go signal to disclose the names of those in the list.
By filing appropriate charges, Castelo said, the public officials involved would be given the chance to answer the allegation at a proper forum.
“This would help properly address the problem and give the concerned lawmakers the opportunity to respond,” Castelo said.
Villarin echoed Castelo’s concern.
“Cases should be filed first against the concerned solons and others in the list,” he said. “Regardless of their status in life, people should be accorded due process and the rule of law which have been continuously violated in President Duterte’s deadly war on drugs that claimed thousands of lives and families traumatized.”
Villarin also voiced concern that those speaking against the “war on drugs” would be linked to drug lords and others involved in the illegal drug business.“Again, as we will expect, people speaking up to criticize the government’s drug war will be lumped together with drug lords and personalities,” Villarin said.