Narcopoliticians leaving PHL 'suspicious,' may face admin case —PDEA chief

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) chief Director General Aaron Aquino on Wednesday made a warning that narcopoliticians who want to leave the country may face an administrative case.

Aquino told Dobol B sa News TV that these politicians should get a permit from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) if they have trips abroad.

"It will be suspicious kung bakit itong isang narco-politician eh lumalabas ng bansa. Dapat mayroon siya bang authority? Dapat may authority siya from the DILG na bawat lumalabas siya out of the country, may permit siya," Aquino said.

"Dapat walang violation doon sa kaniyang paglabas ng bansa. Otherwise, well, puwede siyang kasuhan na naman ng administratibo. Dapat alamin din natin if he is authorized, in the first place, to go outside the country, if there is violation doon sa paglabas niya..." he added.

Aquino said authorities should check if there are violations committed once the politician left the Philippines such as extending his/her trip as well as going to a country that is different from what he/she had declared.

"'Yung iba kasi unang-una pupunta sabihin nating sa US, eh ang mga violation diyan, hindi pumupunta sa US. Sa ibang bansa pumupunta. Maliban doon, if he's only authorized five days or two days and yet lumalampas siya doon o may mga side trips pa... These are violations..." Aquino said.

Aquino's remark came after it was reported that Sinacaban, Misamis Occidental Mayor Crisinciano Mahilac left the country.

Mahilac was among the 46 politicians included in the government's list of personalities allegedly involved in illegal drugs.

President Rodrigo Duterte bared the list last week, despite opposition from some sectors, including human rights advocates.

The DILG has said the 46 personalities Duterte named were already facing complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman in connection with their alleged drug activities. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News