The Philippine National Police (PNP) will work closely with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the next steps to take following the disclosure of a list of barangay officials included in the anti-illegal drugs watch list.
Speaking during Monday's press briefing, PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde said they can provide resources for the investigation into the personalities in the list.
“Kung kailangan imbestigahan, we will coordinate with PDEA kung anong kailangan nila sa amin. If these local or barangay officials would be investigated then we will cooperate. Kung hindi nila maimbestigahan lahat, then we will initiate the investigation,” Albayalde said.
“It will depend on the request ng PDEA kung talagang hingin ang ating tulong dito for investigation,” he added.
PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said the filing of charges against the officials on the list, which include 90 barangay captains and 117 barangay kagawads, should be expected soon.
Based on the list, Bicol Region had the most number of barangay officials under the drugs watch list with 70, followed by Caraga (Region 13) with 34, Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with 13 and National Capital Region with 12 — from Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Mandaluyong and Quezon City.
Aquino said baring the “narco list” was made ahead of the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (Youth Council) elections to discourage voters from supporting officials with alleged ties to the illegal drugs trade.
Aside from the 207 names in the list, Aquino said they are also validating allegations on the alleged involvement of 274 other barangay officials to illegal drugs. (With reports from Elijah Mendoza and Kate Azotea-OJT/PNA)
