Palace ‘saddened’ by celebs’ alleged involvement in drugs

Malacañang on Tuesday lamented the involvement of at least 31 celebrities in illegal drugs as alleged by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

"We're saddened that these people are involved but we will never tolerate it," presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said at a news conference.

Panelo said charges should be filed against the celebrities if there is enough evidence against them.

The Palace official could not say if the government will release the list of celebrities pending President Rodrigo Duterte's position on the matter. Duterte himself read out the names of 46 politicians accused by the administration of having drug links during a peace and order council meeting in Davao City on March 14.

"I will have to ask him kasi releasing names is a different matter," Panelo said. 

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said on Tuesday that the agency still needs to confirm and validate the individuals included in the drug watch list.

The agency had earlier said that two celebrities were clients of alleged party drug dealer Steve Pasion, who was slain by anti-narcotics operatives after supposedly resisting arrest during a buy-bust operation in Manila on March 11.

Duterte commended the PDEA for the operation against Pasion. — BM, GMA News