CHR says release of barangay narco list ‘unfortunate’

The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) on Monday expressed its disapproval over the move of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to release the list of barangay officials allegedly linked to illegal drugs.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, lawyer Jacqueline de Guia, CHR spokesperson, lamented that the list was released even without cases being filed against the concerned officials.

"It is very unfortunate na inilabas po 'yung listahan ng mga allegedly sinasangkot sa iligal na droga na hindi naman sila sinampahan ng mga kaso muna," De Guia said.

"Sabi nga natin maganda talaga 'yung layunin ng PDEA at ng pamahalaan na siguraduhin na 'yung ating mga botante ay malaman kung sino talaga 'yung karapat-dapat na maihalal sa public service."

De Guia reminded the PDEA that law enforcement agencies are mandated by the Constitution to file cases against suspects.

"Kung nailabas ang listahan nang di naman naisampa ang kaso dahil hindi nagkaroon ng case build-up, patuloy pa rin ang problema sa droga," she said.

Earlier this day, PDEA director general Aaron Aquino said the names of the 207 barangay officials on the narco list were validated by government agencies, including the Philippine National Police (PNP).

He added that the PDEA is already in the process of preparing criminal charges against those individuals.

Meanwhile, De Guia underscored the right to due process of those on the list, noting that only the court can judge them.

"Nakapaloob po sa Saligang Batas at napaka-importante 'yung karapatan sa due process at gayundin sa presumption of innocence. Kinakailangang masampahan ang mga tao para malaman nila 'yung nature ng akusasyon sa kanila para magkaroon ng pagkakataon dumepensa sa kanilang sarili. Importante na ang korte mismo ang humahatol," she said.

De Guia said the CHR will monitor the developments on this issue.

"Patuloy pa rin pong tututok ang CHR sa issue na ito at kung meron naman pong magsampa ng kaso, makakaasa po ang publiko na gagawin po namin ang aming mandato na magimbestiga," she said. —KBK, GMA News