THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) will revalidate the list of politicians, congressmen, police and judges allegedly involved in illegal drugs.
DILG Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueno has assured Mabalacat Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales that the DILG will revalidate the drug list read by President Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday. Morales met with Sec. Sueno on Monday to clear his name.
Earlier, Morales met with PNP Central Luzon Chief Supt. Aaron Aquino who also said the PNP will “fasttrack” the revalidation of the drug list. Morales presented himself before Aquino in Camp Olivas.
Meanwhile, comments coming from netizens on social media have urged Duterte to form a special intelligence body to revalidate the information linking politicians, policemen and judges to illegal drugs. A joint intelligence unit composed of NICA, NBI, ISAPF, CIDG and PDEA should be formed to check the validity of the intelligence report, according to them.
This, after a judge mentioned in the list had reportedly been dead for eight years while another one, a former militant in Panay, also raised a howl of protests.
Judge Roberto Navidad of Regional Trial Court 32 in Calbayog City, Samar was assassinated on Jan. 15, 2008 inside his vehicle, apparently a victim of drug lords who operate in the city. The lone killer of Navidad remains unidentified up to this time.
Relatives of the late judge were astonished after learning the latter had been included in the drug list. “He was my uncle. I know him from head to foot. He was not a drug protector. He was a drug eliminator or a drug buster. That is why he was shot dead by these syndicates,” said Elias Navidad Acosta, a nephew of Navidad. “That is a big lie. The reason why he was shot to death was because he fought with the drug lords in Calbayog City.”
Jeffrey Celiz, a former chairman and spokesperson of the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan in Panay was also included in the list as a “congressman, partylist, Panay chapter.” The only problem – Celiz has never been a lawmaker. However, Celiz served Iloilo City Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog as his political consultant, spokesperson and executive assistant.
“It is very obvious that the information being fed to the President is unverified and short of being a rumor-mongering style,” according to Celiz.
“Wow Mali. Mr. President, please. It is clear you are being fed wrong info. I believe you are pure in going after illegal drugs, but your people are making you look bad. Please lead us, do not be led nor be misled,” said Atty. Raymond Fortun in his message in Facebook.