THE Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Migrant and Itinerant People on Tuesday praised the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s release of the names of 207 barangay officials reportedly involved in the illegal drug trade.
Bishop Ruperto Santos, CBCP-ECMI chairman, said the electorate needed to know the background of the people seeking public office.
“We in the CBCP-ECMI support the publication of the narco-politicians, especially those running for the Barangay and SK [Sangguniang Kabataan] elections,” Santos said in a statement.
“The public has the right to know and be informed whom they have to vote.”
Santos made his statement even as the Philippine National Police said it will work closely with the PDEA following the disclosure of the names village officials in the drugs watch list.
Speaking during Monday’s press briefing, Police Chief Oscar Albayalde said they could provide resources for the investigation of the people in the list.
“If an investigation is needed, we will coordinate with PDEA,” Albayalde said.
But Senator Gringo Honasan objected to what he described as the premature release not only of the 1.5 narco-list but any list because of some people’s propensity to try and convict institutions, groups and personalities by publicity at the expense of due process and the rule of law.
Senator Win Gatchalian said the public release of the drug list would surely result in the crucifixion of those 207 alleged narco-politicians in the court of public opinion.
Santos said exposing those involved in illegal acts would be for the good of the community.
“To safeguard our children, to make our future secure and to make our country starting from the Barangay, it is for our common good to expose those narco-politicians,” Santos said.
He said that, as public officials, their lives and what they did should be made public. with Macon Ramos-Araneta
