Ten Duterte party mates on narco list, says PDP-Laban

At least 10 members of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan were on the narcolist released by President Rodrigo Duterte.

Ronwald Munsayac, PDP-Laban spokesperson, said at least 10 of those on the kist were their partymates.

“We’re validating it with our own list. Pero meron at least 10. Eight are running, meaning they have CONA (certificate of nomination and acceptance) from PDP-Laban and two incumbent mayors who are not running this 2019 elections,” Munsayac told GMA News Online.

“Rest assured, PDP-Laban will take action immediately. In our 37 years of existence, we have no room and zero tolerance for illegal drugs and its protectors. We are the President’s most important partner in pushing for genuine change,” he added.

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III, PDP-Laban president, vowed Friday to expel members included in the narco-list who will not be able to give satisfactory explanation.

“We will require all those on the list who turn out to be PDP-Laban members to explain why they have been linked in a verified list to drugs,” he said in a statement.

“And if we find their explanation to be unsatisfactory then we will expel them from the PDP- Laban,” he added.

Pimentel said the party has no place for narco-politicians as well as for corrupt officials.

“We do not want them in our party,” he said.

He said in the interest of fairness and due process, they will send formal notice to any member included in the list.

“He or she can opt to defend himself or herself against the allegations, or choose to voluntarily resign,” he said.

“We will then evaluate that member's membership after considering everything that is presented before us, possibly including outside independent evidence if such is available,” he added.

He further said they will respect their members’ rights to due process, but if a PDP-Laban member “needs to be sanctioned or removed, so be it.”

Pimentel also urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) to begin filing cases against those included in the “narco list.”

He said since the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and other law enforcement agencies had vetted the list naming 46 individuals––45 sitting officials and one former official––cases should immediately be filed, regardless of whether the incumbent officials named were currently running for office.

“If you committed a crime, you should be charged immediately, regardless of whether you are running in the midterm elections or not. Running for office does not grant you immunity,” he said. —NB, GMA News