Two incumbent House members are included in President Duterte’s new list of politicians and government officials who were allegedly involved in narcotics trade, according to Speaker Pantaleon “Bebot” Alvarez.
The House chief said one of the two lawmakers is from Mindanao and is a “drug protector.”
“I have not talked to them. Pinagiisipan ko pa,” he told reporters, even as he declined to name names.
He said he received the list before Christmas. “Yung listahan na binigay validated, maraming ahensiya ang pinanggalingan. On my part, dinodouble check ko pa lang,” Alvarez said.
When pressed on the identities of the lawmakers, he said, “definitely, meron sa Mindanao.”
Alvarez said he is “convinced” that the lawmaker from Mindanao is involved in the drug trade as “drug protector.” He said even his friends confirmed and validated such information.
He said the list also includes mayors, governors, judges, fiscals and generals. “Karamihan protector,” he said.
AKO BICOL partylist Rep. Rodel Batocabe urged Alvarez to divulge the identities of the two lawmakers.
“Dapat pangalanan na ni Speaker kung sino ang mga ito para mabigyan ng pagkakataon na magpaliwanag bilang bahagi ng due process. Kasuhan na sa korte at dito na rin sa Committee on Ethics,” he said.
Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, chairman of the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs earlier cautioned President Duterte against releasing the list without “triple” verification.
“Dapat medyo ingatan at i-triple check ang info dahil baka may halong pulitika ang pagsasangkot sa mayor sa illegal drugs. Politiko ang mga iyan at usong-uso ang siraan,” he said, even as sought the release of the new list of narco-politicians.
In a privilege speech last year, Negros Oriental Rep Arnulfo Teves Jr. had admitted to previously using illegal drugs even as he called on the government to turn public schools into rehabilitation centers, considering the high cost of rehabilitation program.
Teves said he was a “long-time drug addict”, but has not used drugs for 16 years. He proposed that drug rehabilitation sessions be conducted in public high schools between 5 to 8 p.m. to save money.
He noted that drug users who enrol in a rehabilitation facility has to spend P1,000 per day for 90 days.
(CHARISSA M. LUCI)
