INTERIOR Secretary Ismael Sueno said Sunday his department was set to complete a list of narco-politicians in its bid to boost its campaign against illegal drugs.
He said he had ordered his department’s task force to validate the list of not only provincial, municipal and city officials but also of village officials linked to illegal drugs.
He said those in the list must turn themselves in.
The Interior department had recently expressed alarm over the disclosure of the Philippine National Police in Central Luzon that there were 10 mayors and vice mayors from the area, including from Nueva Ecija, in the list of narco-politicians that Duterte would soon reveal.
In Lucena City, police claimed that two suspected drug pushers were killed Sunday night when they sensed they were in the middle of a police buy-bust operation and then opened fire and then tried to escape, but were shot down.
In Davao City, President Rodrigo Duterte said love of country was the factor motivating him in doing everything within his power to stop the drug menace.
In a statement after the bombing in Davao City that killed at least 14 people and injured 67 others, Duterte said he was not worried about the negative perception and criticism he had been receiving from other nations over his campaign against drug pushers.
In the Senate, Senator Bam Aquino said the fund for the establishment of additional rehabilitation centers for thousands of drug dependents must be ensured in the national budget.
The police in Nueva Ecija say Cabanatuan City has the highest number of reported drug cases.
They say least 1,740 drug users and pushers have surrendered to the Cabanatuan police.
To clear his name, the city’s vice mayor, Anthony Umali, voluntarily has submitted himself to drug testing at the provincial crime laboratory office.
He told Sueno that his initiative to undergo a drug test was in support of the Duterte administration’s all-out war against illegal drugs.
“It is the obligation of an elected official to spearhead programs and campaigns designed to promote the welfare of the people. We must be an example of respect, honesty and clean governance,” he said.
At least 18 department heads and employees have also submitted themselves to drug tests.
