The campaign against narco-politicians does not end with naming and shaming them in public.
The government is determined to investigate and file charges against the judges, local executives, and policemen publicly identified by President Duterte for their alleged involvement in drug operations, Malacañang said yesterday.
Presidential Communications Operations Secretary Martin Andanar said the President’s public disclosure of the names clearly showed his “sincerity” that there are “no sacred cows” in the fight against illegal drugs.
“Pagdating naman doon sa pagfi-file na cases, of course, automatic naman iyan, fi-filean ng case ‘yan after nitong investigation,” Andanar said over government radio.
Andanar said government officials named by the President should surrender and submit themselves to investigation.
“The President is encouraging all of the persons of interest, ‘yung mga alleged drug lords and drug coddlers to come out in the open to surrender themselves and submit themselves to thorough investigation if they want to clear their names,” he said.
Andarar said these officials will not be set free even after surrendering to authorities.
“Hindi naman papakawalan,” Andanar said, adding that like other drug suspects who turned themselves in, they will be subjected to proper investigation.
Another batch of names of public servants will likely be released by the President as soon as these are revalidated, according to the Palace official.
“Alam ninyo po, ayoko namang i-preempt ang ating Presidente pero hindi ko alam kung kailan niya ia-anunsyo ‘yung iba pang mga pangalan,” Andanar said.
“Pero base po sa kanyang sinabi kagabi ay meron pang ibang mga pangalan na kino-confirm pa at chine-check, nire-revalidate kung talagang itong mga politiko na ito ay sangkot sa pagbebenta ng droga,” he said.
Andanar said the names given by the President were based on an initial probe by the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)