PNP chief Albayalde vouches for PDEA’s narco list

Philippine National Police chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Monday assured the public that the narco list released by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) was well-validated.

"I'm sure nagkaroon po ng validation po 'yan dahil during the conduct ng regional peace and order council meetings namin, palagi pong napaguusapan and the validation nagsstart po 'yan from the barangay, then 'yung ating pulis then PDEA then the DILG," Albayalde said in an interview on Bawal Ang Pasaway with Mareng Winnie.

Albayalde said the next step would be filing cases against those barangay chairpersons and councilmen supposedly involved in illegal drugs.

"The next step probably is get evidence and file cases against these people. Nasa PDEA po 'yan..." Albayalde said.

Last week, PDEA disclosed the narco list to the public, noting that it was validated by government agencies, including the PNP.

However, some lawmakers expressed opposition with the move of PDEA, saying there may be "violation of rights to life, liberty, property, and honor" with the release of the barangay officials' names.

PDEA chief Aaron Aquino has said the list may serve as a guide for the public on who will they vote during the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections on May 14.

Aquino added that PDEA as well as the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) are already preparing to file cases against those included in the narco list. —Anna Felicia Bajo/NB, GMA News