Duterte reads out list of alleged narco-politicians, narco-cops

President Rodrigo Duterte, who was in Davao City early Sunday morning visiting the wake of soldiers killed fighting communist insurgents, read out a list of government officials allegedly involved in the illegal drug trade.

Included in the president's list were judges, mayors, congressmen, and both high-ranking and low-ranking police officers.

Duterte Illegal Drugs Suspects List by GMA News Online on Scribd

According to the president himself, the involvement of those listed in the illegal drug trade "might be true or it might not be true."

Duterte added that the alleged narco-officials had rights under the Constitution, that they were presumed innocent until proven otherwise, and that they would have their day in court.

However, he was reading the list out loud because "my mouth, walang ‘due process’ dito."

He added that he was making the list public because it was his sworn duty to inform the public of the state of the country.

The president also made it clear that if anyone was mistakenly included in the list, he would take full responsibility for the mistake and that the fault was entirely his.

Meanwhile, Duterte said that soldiers and police officers assigned to provide security for alleged narco-politicians were to report to their mother units within 24 hours.

The narco-cops included the list were likewise ordered to report to the Philippine National Police headquarters within 24 hours.

Also, firearm permits issued to officials allegedly involved in illegal drugs were canceled. The weapons were to surrendered to the PNP in 24 hours. — DVM/LBG, GMA News