Maguindanao gov submits list of politicians involved in drugs to Duterte

BULUAN, Maguindanao — Re-elected provincial Governor Esmael Mangudadatu has submitted a list politicians involved in the illegal drug trade in the province.

Mangudadatu revealed during his oath-taking on Friday that the politicians were included in the list of drug personalities that he submitted to President-elect Rodrigo Duterte.

“In the list that I submitted to President Duterte, there are local officials engaged in illegal activities in the province, but I can’t tell you how many but surely there are,” Mangudadatu said.

He also declined to name the local officials allegedly involved in narcopolitics.

Mangudadatu also revealed during the oath-taking ceremony that at least 20 individuals involved in the illegal drug trade have sent surrender feelers to his office.

Mangudadatu, the provincial chairman of the Liberal Party in Maguindanao, said he fully supports Duterte's campaign against illegal drugs.

Mangudadatu also expressed support to Duterte's stand on the death penalty.

“Death penalty was a strong deterrent against peddling, using and distributing illegal drugs in Saudi Arabia, China and even in Indonesia,” he said.

The governor, however, warned against vigilantism in the province.

During the event, Mangudadatu also denied claims on social media that he and his brothers Khadaffy and Jong are among of the drug lords in Maguindanao.

He also said that he will pursue charges against those who circulated the allegations.

“I will not take this sitting down. Our legal team is working on it. There is a law against it and that is the cybercrime law,” he said. —Ferdinandh Cabrera/ALG, GMA News