Liga ng mga Barangay: Release of narco list, filing of charges should be done at the same time

For the national president of the Liga ng mga Barangay, it would have been better if at the time the narco list of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency was released, charges were also filed against those barangay officials included in the said list.

"Ang gusto nga sana ng liga ng mga barangay kasabay na 'yung pagsasampa ng kaso doon sa paglabas ng listahan at iyan kasi medyo kung listahan at magbubuild-up pa lang ng kaso, medyo malalagay sa alanganin 'yung later on lilitaw pero wala naman palang involvement," said lawyer Edmund Abesamis in an interview on GMA News TV's Balitanghali on Wednesday.

"Kasabay nung paglabas ng listahan ay 'yung pagsasampa ng kaso. Mas maganda po sana 'yung ganon para maiwasan na natin 'yung mga usapin na nadidinig natin ngayon at para din makasagot sa tamang forum 'yung mga napangalanan," Abesamis added.

On Monday, PDEA disclosed the list of barangay chairpersons and councilmen supposedly involved in illegal drugs.

According to PDEA director general Aaron Aquino, the list was validated by government agencies, including the Philippine National Police (PNP).

However, some lawmakers expressed opposition with the move of PDEA, noting that there may be "violation of rights to life, liberty, property, and honor" with the release of names as well as "only sufficient evidence that merits the filing of a criminal case can validate an intelligence report."

Abesamis urged authorities to immediately file cases against those individuals who were included in the list, especially if there are already strong pieces of evidence against them.

"'Yung simpleng paglalabas po ng listahan may nagsasabing, 'yung mga human rights group... na ito ay paglabag sa Saligang Batas, doon sa presumption of innocence atsaka due process of law. Kaya po kami, para maiwasan 'yung mga ganitong usapin ay kinakailangan talaga ay makasuhan na 'yung mga dapat kasuhan na meron ng ebidensya... 'yung mga kasama doon sa listahan," he said.

Abesamis also mentioned that there were barangay officials seeking for their help, saying that they were innocent and not in any way linked to illegal drugs.

The lawyer said they are ready to extend assistance to these barangay officials.

"Meron pong mga lumalapit na rin at nagsasabing tulungan sila at talaga namang hindi sila involved, tayo naman ay handang tumulong at ang hangarin lang naman natin dito ay maparusahan ang may kasalanan at siyempre lumitaw 'yung katotohanan kung walang kasalanan 'yung iba," Abesamis said. — Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News